
Supernova - Wikipedia
A supernova (pl.: supernovae) 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 …
Supernova | Definition, Types, & Facts | Britannica
Mar 1, 2026 · 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 …
What Is a Supernova: Causes, Types, and Remnants
A supernova is the explosive death of a star, releasing more energy in a few weeks than our Sun will produce over its entire 10-billion-year lifetime. At peak brightness, a single supernova can match the …
What Is a Supernova? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids
Jan 20, 2026 · A supernova of a star more than about 10 times the size of our sun may leave behind the densest objects in the universe— black holes. The Crab Nebula is the leftover, or remnant, of a …
What Is a Supernova? Definition, Types, and Famous Examples
What is a supernova? Learn how massive stars explode, the types of supernovae, and the famous cosmic events captured by astronomers.
What Is a Supernova: Types, Facts, and Famous Explosions
Oct 3, 2025 · What is a supernova explained simply? Learn how stars explode, the types of supernovae, what they leave behind, and the most famous supernovae in history.
15 Facts About Supernovas: The Universe’s Biggest Explosions
4 days ago · During a supernova, temperatures and pressures become so extreme that nuclear reactions produce elements heavier than iron. This process, known as rapid neutron capture or the r …
What is a supernova? - EarthSky
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.
Supernovas & Remnants - Harvard–Smithsonian Center for …
Supernovas are some of the brightest events in the universe, occasionally outshining entire galaxies at their peak. Many supernovas can be seen from billions of light-years away, and nearby supernovas …
Supernova Definition - Astrophysics I Key Term | Fiveable
A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion that occurs at the end of a star's life cycle, resulting from either the collapse of a massive star or the...