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.
Please take a short survey in aesthetics & astronomy: Sonification
Tomorrow's picture: open space
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Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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& Michigan Tech. U.
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