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- When a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel to support itself against gravity it collapses in upon itself. When this collapse happens it does so very quickly, which results in the generation of massive shock waves that cause the outer part of the star to explode.
public.nrao.edu/ask/what-causes-a-supernova-explosion/What Causes a Supernova Explosion? – National Radio Astronomy ...
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Sep 27, 2012 · Specifically, a supernova of the type of that occurred in 1006 is caused by a thermonuclear explosion when a white dwarf's mass reaches the Chandrasekhar limit, most likely expelling all...
- What Causes A Supernova?
- How Bright Are Supernovas?
- How Common Are Supernovas?
- What Can We Learn from Supernovas?
- How Do Scientists Study Supernovas?
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. Heat generates pressure, and the pressur...
These spectacular events can be so bright that they outshine their entire galaxies for a few days or even months. They can be seen across the universe.
Not very. Astronomers believe that about two or three supernovas occur each century in galaxies like our own Milky Way. Because the universe contains so many galaxies, astronomers observe a few hundred supernovas per year outside our galaxy. Space dust blocks our view of most of the supernovas within the Milky Way.
Scientists have learned a lot about the universe by studying supernovas. They use the second type of supernova (the kind involving white dwarfs) like a ruler, to measure distances in space. They have also learned that stars are the universe’s factories. Stars generate the chemical elements needed to make everything in our universe. At their cores, ...
NASA scientists use a number of different types of telescopes to search for and then study supernovas. One example is the NuSTAR (Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array) mission, which uses X-ray vision to investigate the universe. NuSTAR is helping scientists observe supernovas and young nebulas to learn more about what happens leading up to, durin...
Apr 12, 2024 · Astronomers crack 37-year cosmic 'murder mystery'. The brightest burst of light ever recorded was caused by a supernova, but that prompts new questions.
Feb 19, 2014 · Cas A was created when a massive star blew up as a supernova, leaving a dense stellar corpse and its ejected remains. The light from the explosion reached Earth a few hundred years ago, so we are seeing the stellar remnant when it was fresh and young.
Mar 24, 2020 · When this collapse happens it does so very quickly, which results in the generation of massive shock waves that cause the outer part of the star to explode. This is what we observe as a bright supernova explosion.
The brightest burst of light ever recorded was caused by a supernova, but that prompts new questions.
Feb 23, 2024 · Scientists say they have solved the mystery of what lies at the heart of a celebrated cosmic explosion. In February 1987, a star was seen exploding in a nearby galaxy.