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Best image yet of ongoing activity at Popocatépetl volcano

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April 24, 2012

Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano (pronounced poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til) has been active since mid-April 2012, and now NASA has produced the best image yet of this spectacular volcano. This false-color image of the volcano was acquired yesterday (April 23, 2012) by NASA’s Terra satellite.

popocatepetl_ast_2012114_lrg — NASA image of Popocatepetl volcano

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Popocatépetl (pronounced poh-poh-kah-TEH-peh-til) is one of Mexico’s most active volcanoes. NASA says it has been erupting since January 2005, with near constant venting from fumaroles punctuated by minor steam, gas, and ash emissions. Activity began to pick up significantly in mid-April.

The last major eruption of Popocatépetl occurred in 800 A.D., in which vast amounts of lava and ash from the volcano completely filled many of the surrounding valleys. Since then, there have been at least five moderate eruptions, two of which occurred in the 1900s.

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April 24, 2012

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Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.