USPS solar eclipse stamps use body heat to reveal the moon
The new set uses thermochromatic ink to pay tribute to the upcoming event.
The United States Postal Service is no stranger to letting its nerd flag fly with special edition stamps. The latest in its space series is a little different, though. Rather than just showing off celestial bodies or NASA spacecraft, the new stamps are a tribute to the upcoming total solar eclipse that should occur August 21st. Press your finger to the stamp and your body heat will transform its black circle centerpiece into an image of our moon. Once the heat dies down, the stamp image goes back to black. While it's not as elaborate as you might think, this is something that's sure to make philatelics smile.
The USPS says this is its first time using thermochromic ink and that the set will be part of its Forever Stamp collection. So, three years from now, if you really need a stamp and postage price has increased, you won't have to double up with additional stamps when sending that handwritten letter to grandma.
Want to celebrate the stamp? Maybe plan a summer road trip to the University of Wyoming's art museum for the postage's First-Day-of-Issue ceremony on June 20th.
