International Space Station astronauts have captured a huge volcanic eruption heading skyward and breaking through cloud.
The Sarychev Volcano in the Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan, is one of the most active volcanoes in the chain.
The June 12 eruption was the first since 1989, with eruptions in 1986, 1976, 1954, and 1946 also producing lava flows.
Ash from the multi-day eruption has been detected 2407km south-east and 926km north-west of the volcano.
Commercial airline flights are being diverted away from the region to minimise the danger of engine failures from ash intake.
NASA said the photograph is exciting to volcanologists because it captures several phenomena that occur during the earliest stages of an explosive volcanic eruption.
The smooth white cloud on top may be water condensation that resulted from rapid rising and cooling of the air mass above the ash column.
