A closer look at the mechanics inside an active eruption. What you’re seeing is a burst of fragmented magma—tiny molten droplets called pyroclasts—being pushed upward by rapidly expanding volcanic gases. The dense, dark plume is a mix of ash, fine rock particles, and water vapor, lifted high as hotter material rises and cooler air rushes in around it. This frame captures the exact moment when pressure, temperature, and gas release combine to eject incandescent material into the air. | AstroNatur