A BLAST IN A BLAST--

This arresting image is of the eruption of a Japanese volcano taken in early January. The streaks are the result of red-hot, molten rock bursting through the volcano's cone into the atmosphere.

In this image a blue-white, horizontal streak of lightning also is visible near the center. Scientists are unclear on what causes this spectacular phenomena, and, it has been noted lightning usually is occurring somewhere on Earth, typically over 40 times each second.

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Photo by Martin Rietze from: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html