Supernova

A supernova is a stellar explosion that briefly outshines an entire galaxy, radiating as much energy as the Sun or any ordinary star is expected to emit over its entire life span, before fading from view over several weeks or months. The extremely luminous burst of radiation expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to 30,000 km/s (10% of the speed of light), driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant. A great proportion of primary cosmic rays comes from supernovae.

Supernovae are more energetic than a nova. Nova means "new" in Latin, referring to what appears to be a very bright new star shining in the celestial sphere; the prefix "super-" distinguishes supernovae from ordinary novae, which are far less luminous. The word supernova was coined by Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky in 1931. It is pronounced /ˌsuːpərnoʊvə/ with the plural supernovae /ˌsuːpərnoʊviː/ or supernovas (abbreviated SN, plural SNe after "supernovae").

Supernovae can be triggered in one of two ways: by the sudden re-ignition of nuclear fusion in a degenerate star; or by the gravitational collapse of the core of a massive star. In the first case, a degenerate white dwarf may accumulate sufficient material from a companion, either through accretion or via a merger, to raise its core temperature, ignite carbon fusion, and trigger runaway nuclear fusion, completely disrupting the star. In the second case, the core of a massive star may undergo sudden gravitational collapse, releasing gravitational potential energy that can create a supernova explosion.

The last directly observed supernova in the Milky Way was Kepler's Star of 1604 (SN 1604); remnants of two more recent supernovae have been found retrospectively. Nevertheless, observations in other galaxies indicate that supernovae occur on average about three times every century in the Milky Way. They play a significant role in enriching the interstellar medium with higher mass elements. Furthermore, the expanding shock waves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars. (Wikipedia)


 

Progenitor IA supernova

Progenitor IA supernova

Progenitor IA supernova.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org
Reference: en.wikipedia.org Type Ia supernova

Type II supernova

Type II supernova

Type II supernova:
Within a massive, evolved star (a) the onion-layered shells of elements undergo fusion, forming an iron core (b) that reaches Chandrasekhar-mass and starts to collapse. The inner part of the core is compressed into neutrons (c), causing infalling material to bounce (d) and form an outward-propagating shock front (red). The shock starts to stall (e), but it is re-invigorated by a process that may include neutrino interaction. The surrounding material is blasted away (f), leaving only a degenerate remnant.

Image source: en.wikipedia.org
References: en.wikipedia.org Type II supernova   Gravitational collapse


 

Type IA supernova animation

Type IA supernova animation

Type IA supernova animation

Image source: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov

Supernova animation

Supernova animation

Supernova animation

Image source and Reference: heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov

 

 

Supernova is coming

Supernova is coming

Betelgeuse Resolved: Supernova is coming<

Image source antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

Type IA supernova animation

Type IA supernova animation

Type IA supernova animation (Click here)

Image source & information: www.nasa.gov

The leftover of a supernova

The leftover of a supernova
The leftover of a supernova

NASA's Swift Satellite Catches First Supernova in the Act of Exploding

Image source & information: www.nasa.gov

 

Supernova Remnant

Supernova Remnant

The debris of Supernova E0102 remnant

Image credit: X-ray - NASA / CXC / MIT / D.Dewey et al., NASA / CXC / SAO / J.DePasquale; Optical - NASA / STScI

Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

The leftover of a supernova

The leftover of a supernova

The Crab Nebula : The leftover of a supernova

Image credit: NASA, ESA, J. Hester, A. Loll (ASU); Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin (Skyfactory) Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

Supernova Remnant and Neutron Star

IC 443: Supernova Remnant and Neutron Star

IC 443: Supernova Remnant and Neutron Star

Image credit: Chandra X-ray: NASA/CXC/B.Gaensler et al; ROSAT X-ray: NASA/ROSAT/Asaoka & Aschenbach; Radio Wide: NRC/DRAO/D.Leahy; Radio Detail: NRAO/VLA; Optical: DSS
Source and Reference: apod.nasa.gov

SN 1006 Supernova Remnant

SN 1006 Supernova Remnant

SN 1006 Supernova Remnant

Image credit: NASA, ESA, Zolt Levay (STScI)

Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

 

Tycho's Supernova Remnant

Tycho's Supernova Remnant

Tycho's Supernova Remnant

Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO; Infrared: NASA/JPL-Caltech; Optical: MPIA, Calar Alto, O. Krause et al.
Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

Supernova Factory NGC 2770

Supernova Factory NGC 2770

Supernova Factory NGC 2770

Image credit: A. de Ugarte Postigo (ESO) et al., Dark Cosmology Centre (NBI, KU), Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC), University of Hertfordshire
Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov

Double Supernova Remnants

Double Supernova Remnants

Double Supernova Remnants DEM L316 ) (Link)

Credit & Copyright: Gemini Observatory, GMOS-South, NSF

Historical Supernova Remnan

Historical Supernova Remnan

RCW 86: Historical Supernova Remnant

Image credit: Jacco Vink (Univ. Utrecht) et al., XMM-Newton: ESA Chandra: NASA / CXC
Source and Reference: antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov