Supernova - Wikipedia 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 expanding shell of gas and dust observed as a supernova remnant
Supernova | Definition, Types, Facts | Britannica 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 (Latin: “new”), the name for another type of exploding star Supernovae resemble novae in several respects
What Is a Supernova? | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids 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! Massive stars burn huge amounts of nuclear fuel at their cores, or centers This produces tons of energy, so the center gets very hot
Supernovas Remnants - Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics 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 in past centuries have been visible during the daytime
What is a Supernova? Exploring the Explosive Death of Stars and Its . . . Without supernovae, the materials necessary for life would never have been created or distributed Supernovae also influence the structure of galaxies The shockwaves from these explosions can trigger the formation of new stars by compressing the gas and dust in surrounding regions
Supernovae - HyperPhysics Supernovae are classified as Type I if their light curves exhibit sharp maxima and then die away smoothly and gradually The model for the initiation of a Type I supernova is the detonation of a carbon white dwarf when it collapses under the pressure of electron degeneracy
DOE Explains. . . Supernovae - Department of Energy Supernovae are considered one of the original sources of the elements heavier than iron in the Universe Even the iron in your blood can be traced back to supernovae or similar cosmic explosions from long before our Sun had formed Supernovae are thus essential to life