Royal Mail today (4 February) announced "Visions of the Universe", a set of eight postage stamps marking the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Royal Astronomical Society.
The stamps, created by artist Robert Ball in collaboration with the RAS, feature illustrations of eight phenomena discovered or investigated by UK astronomers and geophysicists over the last two centuries. The set includes the Cat’s Eye Nebula; Geysers on Saturn’s moon Enceladus; Pulsars; Black Holes; Jupiter’s Auroras; gravitational lensing; Comet 67P; and the Cygnus A Galaxy.
Alongside the stamps are special presentation packs signed by RAS President Professor Mike Cruise.
Philip Parker, Royal Mail, said: “These vivid and beautiful new stamps celebrate the UK’s contribution to our understanding of the Universe, from geysers erupting from one of Saturn’s moons to the extraordinary nature of Black Holes.”
Philip Diamond, RAS Executive Director, added: “This striking and attractive set of stamps reflects the drama of the universe around us. I'm delighted that our bicentenary year is marked by a genuine collector's item combining tradition with contemporary science.”
The new presentation packs are available to order from the Royal Mail website.