Hawaii's Kilauea Erupts for the 49th Time in This Cycle as Lava Returns

[Amber90]

Hawaii's Kilauea volcano put on another show this week, shooting out lava in what scientists count as the 49th eruptive episode of the current cycle. It was striking enough to be picked as a space photo of the day, captured from orbit on June 17

Kilauea has been one of the most closely watched volcanoes on the planet for years, and these repeated episodes give researchers an incredible ongoing dataset. Each one helps refine how we predict the timing and scale of future activity

For people on the island it is a mix of awe and routine at this point, since Kilauea has been so active that locals have learned to live alongside it. The imagery from above never stops being spectacular though

It is also a useful reminder that the planet is geologically alive in ways that dwarf anything we build. Watching a volcano erupt for the 49th time and still command attention says a lot

Space.com: NASA, Space Exploration and Astronomy News

[WWEPete45]

49 times this cycle is wild, Kilauea just does not stop