Dr. Chris Richardson
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A supernova (pl.: supernovae or supernovas) is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star. A supernova occurs during the last evolutionary stages of a massive star, or when a white dwarf is triggered into runaway nuclear fusion.
Jun 13, 2024 · A supernova is the biggest explosion that humans have ever seen. Each blast is the extremely bright, super-powerful explosion of a star. An illustration of one of the brightest and most energetic supernova explosions ever recorded.
Jun 19, 2023 · Type I supernova: A star accumulates matter from a nearby neighbor until a runaway nuclear reaction ignites. Type II supernova: A star runs out of nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity.
Jun 6, 2024 · Don’t confuse a nova with a supernova, a final, titanic explosion that destroys some dying stars, Hounsell said. In a nova event, the dwarf star remains intact, sending the accumulated material hurtling into space in a blinding flash.
Jun 15, 2024 · supernova, any of a class of violently exploding stars whose luminosity after eruption suddenly increases many millions of times its normal level. The term supernova is derived from nova (Latin: “new”), the name for another type of exploding star.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Nov 12, 2020 · A supernova is a star's colossal explosion at the end of its life, which can outshine its entire galaxy. Read about causes and types of supernovae here.
A supernova can light the sky up for weeks, and the massive transfer of matter and energy leaves behind a very different star.
