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Birthday · July 13, 2009

Erupting Volcano Anak Krakatau

July 13, 2009

The light from the farthest visible stars set out on its journey long before your first birthday.

Erupting Volcano Anak Krakatau

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APOD published July 13, 2009. Credit: Marco Fulle. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

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Erupting Volcano Anak Krakatau

Original APOD · July 13, 2009

A volcano on Krakatoa is still erupting. Perhaps most famous for the powerfully explosive eruption in 1883 that killed tens of thousands of people, ash from a violent eruption might also have temporarily altered Earth's climate as long as 1500 years ago. In 1927, eruptions caused smaller Anak Krakatau to rise from the sea, and the emerging volcanic island continues to grow at an average rate of 2 cm per day. The latest eruption of Anak Krakatau started in 2008 April and continues today. In this picture, Anak Krakatau is seen erupting from Rakata, the main island of the Krakatoai group. High above, stars including the Big Dipper are clearly apparent.

Image credit: Marco Fulle

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