Posted on 11/15/2021 3:51:03 PM PST by MtnClimber
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.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Reminds me of the Bible story about Moses leading the Israelites through the desert, guided by a similar-looking pillar.
bttt
Boy does my post ever look dull compared to yours. Heh. :-)
My kitty thinks it's a knock-out, too.
I remember when I was in the Navy, going through the Strait of Messina you could see the red glow from Mt. Etna off the bottom of the clouds...
We had a guy jump overboard in the night as we transited once...they never found him, it was widely thought he was going to attempt a swim to the shore.
Biblical-looking.
THAT is amazing, I have seen them in the dead of winter before sunrise where the sun rises, but never one like this.
LOL well it did remind me of the pillar of fire too. And then I tilted the computer.
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