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 …

Mar 21, 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 …

Mar 13, 2026 · One type of supernova is caused by the “last hurrah” of a dying massive star. This happens when a star at least five times the mass of our sun goes out with a fantastic bang!

Jun 19, 2023 · A supernova is what happens when a star has reached the end of its life and explodes in a brilliant burst of light.

8 hours ago · NASA's Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer reveals the expansion and shock patterns within RCW 86, a supernova observed by early astronomers in A.D. 185.

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.

Supernova explosions are spectacular exceptions to that rule. Several different pathways can lead to a supernova explosion, one of which is the death of a supermassive star.

Apr 26, 2024 · When large stars reach the end of their lives they explode in a supernova, one of the most sudden and violent events in the sky. Large stars live fast and die young. They, like stars of all …

Mar 30, 2025 · When certain stars die, they do not simply fade away. They explode. This tremendous stellar explosion is known as a supernova. It is one of the most powerful phenomena in the universe, …

What is a supernova? Learn how massive stars explode, the types of supernovae, and the famous cosmic events captured by astronomers.