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.

Learn about the causes, types, brightness, and effects of supernovas, the biggest explosions in the universe. Find out how NASA scientists use telescopes to study these spectacular events and what they reveal about the origin of elements and the expansion of space.

Supernovas can briefly outshine entire galaxies and radiate more energy than our sun will in its entire lifetime. They're also the primary source of heavy elements in the universe. According to...

These stars end their evolutions in massive cosmic explosions known as supernovae. When supernovae explode, they jettison matter into space at some 9,000 to 25,000 miles (15,000 to 40,000...

A supernova is the name given to the cataclysmic explosion of a massive star at the end of its life. It can emit more energy in a few seconds than our sun will radiate in its lifetime of...

Learn about the types, causes, and effects of supernovas, the brightest events in the universe. Explore how astronomers study supernovas and their remnants using various tools and methods.

Learn about the types, causes, and effects of supernovae, the colossal explosions of massive stars. Find out how DOE supports research into supernova nucleosynthesis, dark energy, and particle acceleration.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has begun the study of one of the most renowned supernovae, SN 1987A (Supernova 1987A). Located 168,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, SN 1987A has been a target of intense observations at wavelengths ranging from gamma rays to radio for nearly 40 years, since its discovery in February of 1987.

Nature has found a spectacular number of ways to make things explode, and we call the most powerful of those explosions the supernovae. Astronomers Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky invented the...