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 …

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 …

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.

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

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 28, 2025 · Most distant supernova: James Webb sees a star explode at cosmic dawn JWST has revealed a stellar explosion from the universe’s childhood, and it looks astonishingly familiar. Date: …

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

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

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.

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 …