supernova

Also known as SN, SNe, supernovae, SNO

thumb|right|upright=1.3|SN 1994D (bright spot on the lower left), a [[Type Ia supernova within its host galaxy, NGC 4526]] A supernova (: 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 nuclear fusion. The original object, called the progenitor, either collapses to a neutron star or black hole, or is completely destroyed to form a diffuse nebula. The peak optical luminosity of a supernova can be comparable to that of an entire galaxy before fading over several w

AI overview

A supernova is a powerful and luminous explosion of a star that occurs either during the final stages of a massive star's life or when a white dwarf undergoes runaway nuclear fusion. These explosions are so bright that their peak light can rival an entire galaxy, making them important markers for studying the universe, though the original star is either transformed into a neutron star or black hole, or destroyed entirely.

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Image: HST SN 1987A 20th anniversary.jpg

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Commons category: Supernovae

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~75 min read

Article

36 sections

Contents

Occurrence
Etymology
Observation history
Early observations
Telescope findings
Discovery programs
Naming convention
Classification
Type I
Type II
Types III, IV and V
Current models
Thermal runaway
Normal Type Ia
Non-standard Type Ia
Core collapse
Detailed process
Type II
Type Ib and Ic
<span class="anchor" id="Electron-capture supernovae"></span> Electron-capture supernovae
Failed supernovae
Light curves
Asymmetry
Energy output
Progenitor
External impact
Source of heavy elements
Role in stellar evolution
Cosmic rays
Gravitational waves
Effect on Earth
Milky Way candidates
See also
References
Further reading
External links

It is expected that supernovae in our galaxy occur on average once every 61 years, although the last to be observed was Kepler's Supernova in 1604. SN 1987A occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite of our galaxy, in 1987. Several thousand supernovae are typically seen in distant galaxies every year.