APOD: 2025 February 24 – Light Pillar over Erupting Etna

Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to this edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for February 24, 2025.

Mount Etna began erupting again earlier this month (February 8th). Activity is still ongoing...and it is still Winter. Which means it is cold, and airborne water vapor will be freezing into ice crystals. Combine that with a light source (like an erupting volcano), and one could reasonably expect light pillars to form. A timely screen grab by a fast-thinking photographer in my opinion.