APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

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APOD Robot
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APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by APOD Robot » Mon Nov 15, 2021 5:05 am

Image Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna

Explanation: What happening above that volcano? Something very unusual -- a volcanic light pillar. More typically, light pillars are caused by sunlight and so appear as a bright column that extends upward above a rising or setting Sun. Alternatively, other light pillars -- some quite colorful -- have been recorded above street and house lights. This light pillar, though, was illuminated by the red light emitted by the glowing magma of an erupting volcano. The volcano is Italy's Mount Etna, and the featured image was captured with a single shot a few hours after sunset in mid-June. Freezing temperatures above the volcano's ash cloud created ice-crystals either in cirrus clouds high above the volcano -- or in condensed water vapor expelled by Mount Etna. These ice crystals -- mostly flat toward the ground but fluttering -- then reflected away light from the volcano's caldera.

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orin stepanek
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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by orin stepanek » Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:02 pm

EtnaLightPillar_Tine_5100.jpg
Holy Moly; Fire in the hole!! for real! Beautiful photo of volcano and
light pillar!
Cat-lying-flat-on-stomach-1536x864.jpg
I need someone to light my fire! 🔥
Orin

Smile today; tomorrow's another day!

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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by bls0326 » Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:44 pm

Great picture. Reminded me of a scene in the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie.
RaidersLostArk_1981.jpg

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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by gwagwa » Mon Nov 15, 2021 6:48 pm

Woah!!!!!! That's a fierce beast! :ohno:

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johnnydeep
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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by johnnydeep » Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:17 pm

Ok, the light pillar - and its cause - are cool, but what's causing the diagonal shaft of red light seemingly down the volcano's side to the right?
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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by neufer » Mon Nov 15, 2021 10:24 pm

johnnydeep wrote: Mon Nov 15, 2021 9:17 pm
Ok, the light pillar - and its cause - are cool, but what's causing
the diagonal shaft of red light seemingly down the volcano's side to the right?
Camera artifact :?:
Art Neuendorffer

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Re: APOD: Light Pillar over Volcanic Etna (2021 Nov 15)

Post by Ironwood » Mon Nov 15, 2021 10:26 pm

Same as the OPOD for the past three months.

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