Watching This Volcano Erupt From Space Is Absolutely Epic

You've never seen a volcano like this before.

Big Smoke

Watching a massive volcano erupt is truly jaw dropping — but that's nothing compared to the incredible view astronauts get from the International Space Station.

NASA astronauts were treated to an amazing sight this past summer, according to Syfy Wire, when the Raikoke Volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula in Eastern Russia erupted into a massive cloud of dark smoke. Ash and volcanic gases created a giant plume above the 2,300 foot diameter crater as the International Space Station cruised by overhead.

The image above shows convection currents causing a vertical plume to rise above the volcano.

There are about 300 volcanoes in the surrounding areas according to NASA, roughly 29 of them active. The reason why there are so many is because the peninsula lies on top of a tectonic ridge where the Pacific plate is being pushed underneath the North American plate.

Blowing Ash

A second image shows the particles getting washed out across the peninsula by the wind.

Plumes that reach the stratosphere, around the altitude of cruising commercial airliners, stick around much longer than the plumes below, having a much greater effects on both aviation and climate, as NASA points out.

READ MORE: A volcano blows its top, seen from space [Syfy Wire]

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