Eruption June 12th on the Pacific Ring of Fire

A lucky orbit of the International Space Station allowed the astronauts to snap this striking view of Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan), one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain, in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009.

Prior to June 12, the last explosive eruption occurred in 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows. Ash from the multi-day eruption has been detected 2,407 kilometers east-southeast and 926 kilometers west-northwest of the volcano, and commercial airline flights are being diverted away from the region to minimize the danger of engine failures from ash intake.

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=38985