Southern Stars and Erupting Volcano

The Southern Cross and two bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri shine above the erupting Kilauea volcano in Hawaii. Located in the World Heritage Site of Volcanoes National Park, the Kilauea caldera is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. In recent decades, eruptions have been continuous (as seen in this image), with many of the lava flows reaching to the Pacific Ocean shore. Photographed in this image is Halemaumau crater, a roughly one-kilometer diameter pit crater in the much larger summit caldera of Kilauea. According to the traditions of the native people Halemaumau is home to Pele, Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes.