Volcano pics from space - they're out of this world

This series of cool pictures were taken from space and show magnificent aerial views of volcanoes from across the globe. These photographs were snapped by the US operated GeoEye-1 satellite and the International Space Station.

Bird's eye view: Safe from harm, NASA scientists look down on the Sarychev Peak volcano as the dramatic eruption takes place. The force of the blast sends clouds scattering.

As the ISS continues its perfectly-timed flyby, the eruption continues unabated. The perfect 'plume' at the top of the volcano implies there is no shearing wind, which would have disrupted the pattern.

Stretching behind the volcano lies the vast shadow caused by the eruption, as the blast continues to grow

Extraordinary ... Papua New Guinea's Manam Volcano

NASA / SPL / Barcroft Media

Plume ... Mount Etna in Italy

NASA / SPL / Barcroft Media

Moonscape ... Klyuchevskaya volcano in Russia

NASA / SPL / Barcroft Media

Smoking ... the Shiveluch volcano in Russia

NASA / SPL / Barcroft Media

Eye spy ... Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania

NASA / SPL / Barcroft Media