Release Calendar March 2009

March 2009

02 March 2009: Liechtenstein - EUROPA issue

Philatelie Liechtenstein Europa 2009 ~ Astronomy issue: A single stamp design (face value CHF 1.30) was selected via a competition held in collaboration with the Liechtenstein School of Art. The winning design, by Leta Krähenbühl, is printed on hologram foil and depicts a stylized supernova. An important design element within the artwork is a tiny white dot at the center of the design. It represents a "White Dwarf." The culmination of the star's collapse.

First Day Cover with a single stamp, special cancel and cache art.

A single stamp design (face value CHF 1.30) was selected via a competition held in collaboration with the Liechtenstein School of Art. The winning design, by Leta Krähenbühl, is printed on hologram foil and depicts a stylized supernova. An important design element within the artwork is a tiny white dot at the center of the design. It represents a ÒWhite Dwarf.Ó The culmination of the star's collapse.

First Day Cover with a block of four of the stamps. (notice how the placement of the postmark appears to extend the illustration of the cache art.)

A "Maxi Card" depicting a region of the night sky that carries a single stamp with the special FDC postmark. This type of item has been popular with collectors in Europe for many years is gaining in popularity in other regions the world over.

22March2009: Uzbekistan - IYA2009 issue

UZBEKISTAN POCHTASI - IYA2009 ~ Astronomy issue: Two stamp designs released. The first, valued at 350 (UZS) features the Observatory of Ulugbek, Samarkand. The second, valued at 750 (UZS) features the Monument of Muhammad Taragay Ulugbek (1394-1449) in Tashkent.

Set of two stamps and one label. The 350 (UZS) value stamp features the Ulugbek Observatory in Samarqand while the 750 (UZS) value features a statue depicting the Uzbek astronomer, mathematic & statesmen Muhammad Taragay Ulugbek. The issue celebrates Ulubek's 615th anniversary. Among his accomplishments, he was the creator of a number of astronomical catalogues and tables, defining the location of thousands of heavenly bodies in the dome of the sky, which even today astound scientist's with their accuracy. The two stamps are separated by a label featuring the IYA2009 logo.

FDI postmark featuring the text "International Astronomy year" plus a line drawing portrait of the astronomer and the text "Great astronomer MUHAMMAD TARAGÕAY ULUGÕBEK" together with the date 22.03.2009 and the station "OÕZBEKISTON, SAMARQAND".

25 March 2009: Denmark - EUROPA issue

Post Danmark A/S Europa 2009 ~ Astronomy issue: Two stamp designs released. One valued at 5.50 DKK features the Round Tower while the second valued at 8.00 DKK features the Tycho Brahe Planetarium.

The DKK 5.50 value from the Danish set, depicting The Round Tower - one of Europe's oldest functioning observatories, the Round Tower was used solely by scientists from the University of Copenhagen, but today, on selected evenings during the winter months, amateur astronomers and casual visitors are invited to gaze at the night sky through the fine rooftop telescope. The current telescope was built by the precision engineer Jens Olsen, who also made the World Clock at Copenhagen City Hall.

The DKK 8.00 value from the Danish set, depicting the Tycho Brahe Planetarium - The Tycho Brahe Planetarium in Copenhagen was inaugurated in 1989 as the advanced centre in Denmark for the presentation of astronomy and space research.