NASA has been the source of some of the most incredible images ever produced thanks to its Hubble Space telescope.

However, astronauts on board the International Space Station have given Hubble a run for its money with this image of a volcanic eruption on earth, released today by the space agency.

It shows the Sarychev Volcano (Kuril Islands, northeast of Japan) in an early stage of eruption on June 12, 2009.

Sarychev Peak is one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril Island chain, and it is located on the northwestern end of Matua Island.

Nasa claims the image is an incredible find for scientists, and should help explain how eruptions and the volcanic ash they spew out impact the environment. For most of us, however, it is just another reminder that some of the most incredible images you'll ever see are actually created by mother nature.