Supernovae can expel several solar masses of material at speeds up to several percent of the speed of light. This drives an expanding shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium, sweeping up an …

Sep 25, 2025 · 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 …

Dec 24, 2025 · 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 …

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 …

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.

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.

Jan 7, 2026 · Decades in the making, NASA's X-ray timelapse shows a stellar explosion expanding into space at up to 2% the speed of light.

Mar 30, 2025 · A supernova is not just a star’s death—it is a dramatic event that reshapes the cosmos. These cosmic explosions are responsible for creating the elements that make up the Earth and life …

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.

A supernova can light the sky up for weeks, and the massive transfer of matter and energy leaves behind a very different star.