Alaska’s Mount Spurr being closely watched for signs of an explosive eruption

Mount Spurr is part of the Ring of Fire, located in southern Alaska. The mountain is a stratovolcano, which means it has steep slopes and is known for its explosive eruptions. The last major eruption occurred in 1992, which caused a significant disruption in air travel across the Pacific Ocean.

NASA rocket launches into Alaskan northern lights

While a rocket launching into the northern lights puts on a spectacular show, it wasn’t just by happenstance. The timing of this launch had to be just right to get the necessary scientific data.