Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2021 March 3

                       Stars over an Erupting Volcano
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Giuseppe Vella

   Explanation: Mt. Etna has been erupting for hundreds of thousands of
   years. Located in Sicily, Italy, the volcano produces lava fountains
   over one kilometer high. Mt. Etna is not only one of the most active
   volcanoes on Earth, it is one of the largest, measuring over 50
   kilometers at its base and rising nearly 3 kilometers high. Pictured
   erupting last month, a lava plume shoots upwards, while hot lava flows
   down the volcano's exterior. Likely satellite trails appear above,
   while ancient stars dot the sky far in the distance. This volcanic
   eruption was so strong that nearby airports were closed to keep planes
   from flying through the dangerous plume. The image foreground and
   background were captured consecutively by the same camera and from the
   same location.

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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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