Spiral Galaxy Stamps

Description

2025 Spiral Galaxy

2025 Priority Mail stamp
Celebrates America’s deep space exploration
Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope

Stamp Category: Definitive
Value: $10.10, Priority Mail Rate
First Day of Issue: January 21, 2025
First Day City: Big Sky, Montana
Printing Method: Offset, Microprint
Format: Pane of 4

History the stamp represents: NGC 628, also known as Messier 74, is a spiral galaxy located approximately 32 million lightyears from Earth in the constellation Pisces. Its nearly perfect symmetry and distinct spiral arms make it a prime example of a “grand design spiral galaxy.” This term describes galaxies with clearly defined and well-structured arms. These arms are filled with young stars and regions of glowing gas where new stars are actively forming.

NGC 628 was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. It spans 95,000 light-years in size, making it slightly smaller than our Milky Way. It contains an estimated 100 billion stars, though they can be difficult to observe due to the galaxy’s relatively low surface brightness. Amateur astronomers with small telescopes may struggle to see it, but it is easier with larger, more powerful models.

Astronomers continue to study NGC 628 as it has given them valuable insight into the life cycles of galaxies. Their observations in different wavelengths of light have revealed star-forming activity, dust content, and information about the galaxy’s central core. NGC 628 was observed by the famous James Webb Space Telescope in July 2022. An image from this observation was used on the 2025 US Priority Mail stamp.