International Geophysical Year

The International Geophysical Year (IGY) was an international scientific project that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. 67 countries participated with research in earth science and astronomy by nearly 30,000 scientists. Some notable achievements during the project were the observation of the sun during a period of intense sunspot activity, the study and exploration of the Antarctic, mapping of the ocean floor, advancements in the study of plate tectonics and seismology, the discovery of the Van Allen Radiation Belt, the launch of the first artificial satellite, Sputnik 1, by the Soviet Union and the signing of the Antarctic Treaty which made the Antactic an international continent for scientific research, free of any national territorial claims. The stamp issued on May 31, 1958, features solar prominences and a section of Michelangelo’s famous painting, “The Creation of Adam,” located on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.