Today's Image

Milky Way over Ijen Volcano

Photo taken April 27, 2017 by Martin Marthadinata.

Martin Marthadinata wrote from East Java, Indonesia:

I captured the Milky Way when I traveled to Mount Ijen, Banyuwangi East Java, Indonesia.

Besides its night sky, there’s another reason to travel to this volcano complex. Ijen is known for an electric-blue flame, shown in the photo below. Read about Ijen’s blue flame here.

Thank you, Martin!

Ijen’s blue flame. It’s not lava. It’s the combustion of sulphuric gases and when they come in contact with the air. The gases ignite, sending the flames up. Some of the gases like you see on this picture condense into liquid sulphur, that why it gives the feeling of lava flowing. Photo via Wanderlust East Java, which also has a lot of background on this phenomenon.

Bottom line: Milky Way over Ijen Volcano.

Posted 
May 19, 2017
 in 
Today's Image

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