The night from 6 to 7 June 2009 was spent by the VolcanoDiscovery group at about 500m south of the active crater of Anak Krakatau, close to a big boulder. The rock served well as a shelter protecting team members against about ten bombs which impacted nearby after a flying a trajectory of many hundred metres. Other close observations of the active vent were done from the sea on the mornings of 4 and 6 June.
At 500m from Anak's crater, close to a big rock (at the photo's right edge) which acted as a shelter.
Even minor explosions produce loud bangs and eject big bombs which then roll down Anak's flank.
A bigger explosion erupts huge bombs towards the right, which then break into many smaller rolling pieces.
Big eruptions illuminate the entire flanks by incadescent lava. Note the bomb very close at bottom right.
A one-second exposure at the beginning of an eruption well shows the rapid motion of flying bombs.
A 30-second exposure of the same eruption shows that sometimes bombs are ejected mostly in a vertical direction.
Striking contrast between a dark eruption cloud full of ash and a thunderstorm cloud in the background.
Another big eruption observed from the pine wood on the eastern side of Anak's flank (6 June).
The biggest bombs are so hot that they appear red even in bright daylight (4 June).
The beginning of a big explosion: note the ash trail of the biggest bombs at right (6 June).
This photo was taken few seconds after the previous one, with some bombs landing on the crater rim.
Extreme zoom inside the eruption ash cloud reveals that not only red, incadescent, but also many dark (dangerous!) blocks are ejected.
Photos by Marco Fulle taken with 10-20mm, 50mm, 135mm and 300mm lenses (reflex digicam with 16x24mm sensor).
