Mt. Vesuvius from Space As Phil Plait informs us at the link above, this gorgeous shot was taken from the International Space Station on Jan 1, 2013. That so many would desire to live in a place so beautiful, with full knowledge of the possible destruction that this active volcano could wreak on their lives (as it did less than two millennia ago), speaks volumes about us. Sometimes when you take a picture of Earth, it can be a self-portrait of humanity itself. It’s a stunningly beautiful place, and that seems to trump danger and risk for a great many people.  (via Bad Astronomy)
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Mt. Vesuvius from Space

As Phil Plait informs us at the link above, this gorgeous shot was taken from the International Space Station on Jan 1, 2013. That so many would desire to live in a place so beautiful, with full knowledge of the possible destruction that this active volcano could wreak on their lives (as it did less than two millennia ago), speaks volumes about us.

Sometimes when you take a picture of Earth, it can be a self-portrait of humanity itself. It’s a stunningly beautiful place, and that seems to trump danger and risk for a great many people. 

(via Bad Astronomy)

Source: Slate

The Atlantic has a stunning gallery of the year 2012 in volcanic activity that you really want to check out. Ever since our planet formed from a cloud of condensed stellar dust, the dense heat of our interior has created a molten core surrounded by a thin candy shell of solid rock. That shell continues to evolve, leaking magma via cracks in its moving surface, via events both quiet and violent. Such is the continual evolution of our planet. It’s a beautiful process, assuming you’re looking at it in a photograph, rather than while running in fear from the bottom of the mountain where it’s occurring.
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The Atlantic has a stunning gallery of the year 2012 in volcanic activity that you really want to check out. Ever since our planet formed from a cloud of condensed stellar dust, the dense heat of our interior has created a molten core surrounded by a thin candy shell of solid rock. That shell continues to evolve, leaking magma via cracks in its moving surface, via events both quiet and violent. Such is the continual evolution of our planet. It’s a beautiful process, assuming you’re looking at it in a photograph, rather than while running in fear from the bottom of the mountain where it’s occurring.
Zoom Info

The Atlantic has a stunning gallery of the year 2012 in volcanic activity that you really want to check out.

Ever since our planet formed from a cloud of condensed stellar dust, the dense heat of our interior has created a molten core surrounded by a thin candy shell of solid rock. That shell continues to evolve, leaking magma via cracks in its moving surface, via events both quiet and violent.

Such is the continual evolution of our planet. It’s a beautiful process, assuming you’re looking at it in a photograph, rather than while running in fear from the bottom of the mountain where it’s occurring.