Back to Glossary

Supernova

A supernova is the explosive death of a star, during which it rapidly ejects most of its mass in a brilliant burst of light. In core‑collapse supernovae (Types Ib, Ic, II), massive stars (≥ 8 solar masses) exhaust their nuclear fuel, collapse under gravity, and explode. In Type Ia supernovae, a white dwarf in a binary system undergoes runaway fusion after accreting mass. These events deliver heavy elements into space, leave behind neutron stars or black holes, and power typical shock‑front supernova remnants.

Source: heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov

APODs including "Supernova"

Zeta Oph: Runaway Star

Zeta Oph: Runaway Star

05/07/2015

Sharpless 308: Star Bubble

Sharpless 308: Star Bubble

23/06/2015

Supernova 1994D and the Unexpected Universe

Supernova 1994D and the Unexpected Universe

31/05/2015

NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis

NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis

27/03/2015

Galaxy and Cluster Create Four Images of Distant Supernova

Galaxy and Cluster Create Four Images of Distant Supernova

09/03/2015

Cometary Globule CG4

Cometary Globule CG4

06/03/2015

M100: A Grand Design Spiral Galaxy

M100: A Grand Design Spiral Galaxy

11/02/2015

Cataclysmic Dawn

Cataclysmic Dawn

11/01/2015

Vela Supernova Remnant

Vela Supernova Remnant

01/01/2015

Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish Nebula

Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish Nebula

03/12/2014

Eta Carinae and the Expanding Homunculus Nebula

Eta Carinae and the Expanding Homunculus Nebula

02/12/2014

M1: The Crab Nebula

M1: The Crab Nebula

21/11/2014

A Spectre in the Eastern Veil

A Spectre in the Eastern Veil

30/10/2014

Supernova Remnant Puppis A

Supernova Remnant Puppis A

12/09/2014

No X-rays from SN 2014J

No X-rays from SN 2014J

16/08/2014

Cosmic Crab Nebula

Cosmic Crab Nebula

25/07/2014

3D Homunculus Nebula

3D Homunculus Nebula

17/07/2014

SN 1006 Supernova Remnant

SN 1006 Supernova Remnant

12/07/2014

Wolf-Rayet Star 124: Stellar Wind Machine

Wolf-Rayet Star 124: Stellar Wind Machine

01/07/2014

V838 Light Echo: The Movie

Video preview available on open
Video

17/06/2014

The Tarantula Zone

The Tarantula Zone

12/06/2014

M51: X-Rays from the Whirlpool

M51: X-Rays from the Whirlpool

10/06/2014

WR 104: A Pinwheel Star System

WR 104: A Pinwheel Star System

03/06/2014

A Halo for NGC 6164

A Halo for NGC 6164

22/05/2014

Galaxy Cluster Magnifies Distant Supernova

Galaxy Cluster Magnifies Distant Supernova

05/05/2014

Along the Western Veil

Along the Western Veil

04/04/2014

The Long Jet of the Lighthouse Nebula

The Long Jet of the Lighthouse Nebula

21/02/2014

The Cosmic Web of the Tarantula Nebula

The Cosmic Web of the Tarantula Nebula

17/02/2014

NGC 2359: Thor's Helmet

NGC 2359: Thor's Helmet

15/02/2014

Downtown Auriga

Downtown Auriga

13/02/2014