A full moon and a lava fountain illuminated the evening sky on July 28, 2026, as the summit of Kīlauea erupted a lava fountain for the 52nd time since December 2024. USGS photo by D. Downs. 

The eruption plume during episode 52 of lava fountaining at the summit of Kīlauea rose to an estimated 19,000 (5,800 meters) above sea level. The incandescent lava erupted by the north vent, and lava flows on the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu crater, illuminated the plume which was visible for many miles from the summit of Kīlauea, along with a full moon. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.

At Uēkahuna overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, visitors were illuminated in the evening light by a full moon and 52nd episode of lava fountaining in at the summit of Kīlauea. USGS photo by M. Patrick on July 28, 2026. 

Silhouettes of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitors on the rim of Kaluapele (Kīlauea summit caldera) were created by the Kīlauea summit eruption episode 52 lava fountains and eruption plume on the night of July 28, 2026. USGS photo by M. Patrick. 

Lava fountained from the north vent in Halemaʻumaʻu at the summit of Kīlauea for nearly 7.5 hours on the night of July 28-29, 2026. During the eruptive episode, the instantaneous effusion rate peaked at about 350 cubic yards (270 cubic meters) per second at approximately 9:15 p.m. HST, with an average effusion rate of 250 cubic yards (190 cubic meters) per second for the entire fountaining episode. An estimated 6.1 million cubic yards (4.7 million cubic meters) of lava erupted and covered about 40-50% of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor.  USGS photo by K. Mulliken. 

Another view of the north vent lava fountain during episode 52 at the summit of Kīlauea on July 28, 2026. Precursory activity began from the north vent on the morning of July 28 with 6 overflows between 10:22 a.m. and 1:53 p.m. HST, the longest lasting over 30 minutes. These were immediately followed by the onset of a vigorous overflow fed by 10-30 foot (3-10 meter) high dome fountains from the north vent at 1:56 p.m. HST which continued until the onset of episode 52 fountaining at 7:10 p.m. HST. The transition was marked by increasing height of the dome fountain, greater eruptive volume, increased deflation and rapidly increasing tremor. The eruptive episode continued for almost 7.5 hours, ending at 2:36 a.m. HST on July 29, 2026. USGS photo by K. Mulliken.