Volcanic ash sunsets

[ezsha]

Europe has so many grounded planes, which means skies less congested by contrails. Between that and the volcanic ash, sunsets have become extraordinary. Spaceweather hosts tons of pictures, and had the following on their website this morning:

Hard and sharp-edged volcanic dust is hazardous to aircraft, clogging engines that suck it in, and pitting windows that pilots need to see through. According to Eurocontrol, the intergovernmental body that manages European air travel, about 16,000 flights across Europe have been canceled. Stranded passengers have one consolation--sunrises and sunsets of rare beauty. Browse the links below for examples.

volcanic sky shots: from René of Schiphol, Amsterdam, Netherlands; from Manuel ten Hake of Zoetermeer, The Netherlands; from Vincent Phillips of Speke, Liverpool, England; from Toine Kuiper of Leende, Netherlands; from Jeffrey Berkhout of Nibbixwoud, Netherlands; from Katie-Anne Fitzgerald of Belton North Lincolnshire UK; from Alan C Tough of Elgin, Moray, Scotland.

[valhalla]

While growing up, I was fortunate enough to live next to an Earth-Space science teacher who was also a Nikon photography nut - yes, connection    I must admit that I have sat around waiting for Ash-ladden skies to photograph over the years, even though I've always lived on the east coast of the US.  When the air clears enough for air travel, the dust will continue to circulate and move around.  I don't know if will get any here, but I'm looking