Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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.

                              2025 February 24
    [2]A slope of volcano is pictured with red glowing lava running down
   its side. A dark starry sky is in the background. Up into the sky a red
       column is visible. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                       Light Pillar over Erupting Etna
                 Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Davide Caliò

   Explanation: Can a lava flow extend into the sky? No, but light from
   the lava flow can. One effect is something quite unusual -- a volcanic
   [4]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 [5]Sun. Alternatively, other light pillars -- [6]some [7]quite
   [8]colorful -- have been recorded above street and house lights. This
   light [9]pillar, though, was illuminated by the red light emitted by
   the glowing magma of an [10]erupting volcano. The volcano is
   [11]Italy's [12]Mount Etna, and the [13]featured image was captured
   with a single shot during an early morning in mid-February. Freezing
   temperatures above the volcano's [14]lava flow created [15]ice-crystals
   either in the air above the volcano or in condensed water vapor
   expelled by [16]Mount Etna. These [17]ice crystals -- mostly [18]flat
   toward the ground but fluttering -- then reflected away light from the
   [19]volcano's caldera.

                 Tomorrow's picture: stars between curtains
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply.
            [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]Notices;
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2502/LightPillarVolcano_Calio_1333.jpg
   3. https://www.instagram.com/calio.davide/
   4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_pillar
   5. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/facts/
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap181024.html
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160208.html
   8. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131218.html
   9. https://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/pillar.htm
  10. https://youtu.be/z01KTFhA34o
  11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy
  12. https://youtu.be/gbRdvpTdQdI
  13. https://youtu.be/YqbNdDxa_i4
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190512.html
  15. https://www.atoptics.co.uk/halo/platcol.htm
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap030416.html
  17. https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/01/07/science/07tb-lightpillars-diagram/07tb-lightpillars-jumbo.jpg
  18. https://mrbosscat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Cat-lying-flat-on-stomach-1536x864.jpg
  19. https://youtu.be/gbRdvpTdQdI
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250223.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  26. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250224
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250225.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/