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"

The N44 Superbubble

The N44 Superbubble

25/06/2017

The Great Nebula in Carina

The Great Nebula in Carina

13/06/2017

The Case of the Missing Star

The Case of the Missing Star

06/06/2017

Star Cluster, Spiral Galaxy, Supernova

Star Cluster, Spiral Galaxy, Supernova

25/05/2017

Simeis 147: Supernova Remnant

Simeis 147: Supernova Remnant

18/05/2017

The Multiwavelength Crab

The Multiwavelength Crab

11/05/2017

Cooling Neutron Star

Cooling Neutron Star

01/05/2017

Zeta Oph: Runaway Star

Zeta Oph: Runaway Star

08/04/2017

Black Hole Accreting with Jet

Black Hole Accreting with Jet

27/03/2017

Fast Stars and Rogue Planets in the Orion Nebula

Fast Stars and Rogue Planets in the Orion Nebula

21/03/2017

The Mysterious Rings of Supernova 1987A

The Mysterious Rings of Supernova 1987A

05/03/2017

Edge-On NGC 891

Edge-On NGC 891

12/01/2017

Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish Nebula

Sharpless 249 and the Jellyfish Nebula

07/01/2017

Sharpless 308: Star Bubble

Sharpless 308: Star Bubble

20/12/2016

The Lagoon Nebula in High Definition

The Lagoon Nebula in High Definition

14/12/2016

Flaming Star Nebula

Flaming Star Nebula

01/12/2016

Nova over Thailand

Nova over Thailand

21/11/2016

The Cosmic Web of the Tarantula Nebula

The Cosmic Web of the Tarantula Nebula

08/11/2016

The Antlia Cluster of Galaxies

The Antlia Cluster of Galaxies

18/10/2016

Starry Night Scavenger Hunt

Starry Night Scavenger Hunt

18/09/2016

Young Suns of NGC 7129

Young Suns of NGC 7129

29/08/2016

NGC 2736: The Pencil Nebula

NGC 2736: The Pencil Nebula

15/07/2016

NGC 1309: Spiral Galaxy and Friends

NGC 1309: Spiral Galaxy and Friends

14/07/2016

The Swirling Core of the Crab Nebula

The Swirling Core of the Crab Nebula

08/07/2016

NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula

NGC 6888: The Crescent Nebula

10/06/2016

The Supernova and Cepheids of Spiral Galaxy UGC 9391

The Supernova and Cepheids of Spiral Galaxy UGC 9391

06/06/2016

Tycho's Supernova Remnant Expands

Tycho's Supernova Remnant Expands
Video

01/06/2016

The Great Carina Nebula

The Great Carina Nebula

27/05/2016

Supernova Remnant Simeis 147: The Spaghetti Nebula

Supernova Remnant Simeis 147: The Spaghetti Nebula

25/04/2016

M16: Pillars of Star Creation

M16: Pillars of Star Creation

24/04/2016