Views of Our Planets Forever stamps are a 2016 USPS issue featuring all eight planets in our solar system. The pane contains 16 stamps: each of the eight designs appears twice. Pluto is not one of these eight designs; it appeared in a separate Pluto—Explored! souvenir sheet issued at the same time.
Views of Our Planets stamp facts
| Issue date | May 31, 2016 |
|---|---|
| Issue location | New York, New York |
| Format | Pane of 16 Forever stamps |
| Designs | 8 planet views, each repeated twice |
| USPS item number | 473600 |
| Postage status | Forever stamps; valid for the current 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate |
Which planets appear on the stamps?
The set follows the eight-planet model of the solar system:
- Mercury — the innermost rocky planet.
- Venus — shown through imagery that reveals its cloud-covered atmosphere.
- Earth — our ocean-and-cloud-covered home world.
- Mars — the red planet, shaped by craters, plains and ancient surface processes.
- Jupiter — the largest planet, with its banded atmosphere and giant storms.
- Saturn — recognized by its broad ring system.
- Uranus — an ice giant with a blue-green appearance.
- Neptune — the distant blue ice giant.
USPS used true-color and enhanced-color images derived from planetary imaging data. Enhanced color helps make atmospheric or surface features easier to see; it does not mean the design is a literal naked-eye view from space.
Why Pluto is separate
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, so it is not included in the eight Views of Our Planets designs. USPS paired the release with a separate four-stamp Pluto—Explored! souvenir sheet celebrating the New Horizons mission. Collectors should therefore treat the planet pane and the Pluto sheet as related but distinct issues.
Can these 2016 stamps still be used?
Yes. They were issued as Forever stamps and remain valid for the current 1-ounce First-Class Mail letter rate, even though their original 2016 selling price was 47 cents per stamp. Unused stamps in good condition do not need additional postage for that standard service.
What to check when identifying a pane
- A complete pane contains 16 stamps.
- All eight planets appear, with every design repeated once.
- The USPS item number is 473600.
- Pluto does not appear in this pane.
- The imagery varies between true-color and enhanced-color views.
Official references
Issue details and technical specifications are documented in the USPS Postal Bulletin. USPS also published background on the planetary imagery and the separate Pluto issue in its 2016 planets announcement.