Scott No: 3283-5
Serial number: 2003-10
Values in set: 3
Denomination: 3.60 yuan
Date of issue: 21st June 2003
Designer: Yu Weihua
Size of stamps: 40*30 mm
Perforation: 12
Sheet composition:
20 for sheet I
9 for Sheet II
Printing process: offset
Printer: Shenyang Post & Telecommunication Printing Works

This is a set of three special stamps titled Jilin Meteorite Shower, issued on June 21, 2003, with a total face value of 3.60 yuan, designed by Yu Weihua, with the distribution map drawn by Xu Lin, Zou Yongliao, and Ouyang Ziyuan, and printed by Shenyang Post and Telecommunications Printing Factory in Liaoning Province using offset printing.

On March 8, 1976, the world-famous Jilin meteorite shower occurred in the Jilin region. A meteoroid entered Earth's atmosphere and exploded violently, scattering numerous fragments across the northern suburbs of Jilin City, Yongji, and Jiaohe. The strewn field extended 72 kilometers from east to west and 8.5 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of approximately 500 square kilometers. A total of 138 meteorite specimens were collected, with a total weight of more than 2,700 kilograms. Among them, Meteorite No. 1 weighed 1,770 kilograms, making it the largest single stone meteorite in the world. Meteorites preserve material information from the early solar system and are precious physical samples for studying the origins of celestial bodies and planetary evolution. Chinese researchers have conducted long-term systematic studies on the Jilin meteorites, achieving numerous scientific results with international influence. This stamp set presents the complete process of the meteorite shower from a scientific perspective, combining astronomical educational value with the achievements of China's celestial science research.

Stamp Designs and Historical Background

Fall

The stamp depicts the meteoroid entering the atmosphere and breaking into multiple burning fireballs streaking across the sky. An image of the Earth is included in the lower left corner, with the Songhua River and Jilin Bridge in the distance. It recreates the spectacular celestial phenomenon of the meteorite shower, with fireballs blazing and light shining brightly, visually presenting the astronomical event of a meteoroid crossing the atmosphere and falling at high speed.

Distribution

The stamp uses a scientific diagram format, combining a topographical map of the Jilin region with a diagram of the solar system's orbits. Lines mark the location of the meteorite explosion and the distribution range of the fragments, with the date of the event noted. Through rigorous scientific drawing, it clearly presents the explosion site, the shape of the strewn field, and the distribution pattern of the meteorite shower, reflecting the research results obtained through field surveys by scientists.

Meteorite No. 1

The main subject is a close-up of the Jilin Meteorite No. 1. The surface of the rock is rough and uneven, preserving its original appearance after being scorched while passing through the atmosphere. The background includes an image of the impact crater left by the meteorite. This 1,770-kilogram stone meteorite is the most important specimen of the entire meteorite shower. It is now housed in the Jilin Meteorite Museum and is the largest stone meteorite in human collections, carrying precious cosmic information.

Artistic and Design Features

The stamp set uses a deep blue color as its main tone, creating an atmosphere of the vastness of space and combining scientific documentation with artistic expression. The offset printing provides even and soft colors, balancing the rigor of the astronomical diagrams with the textural representation of the meteorite specimens. The three stamps follow the logical sequence of the event, presenting the fall process, the strewn field distribution, and the physical specimen in a coherent narrative. Using simple and modern design language, it condenses a major astronomical event into a small format. It is a rare astronomical meteorite educational-themed stamp issue in China.