Description: A supernova is a massive stellar explosion. Supernovae briefly become by far the most luminous object in their galaxy before fading over the course of a few years. There are two main pathways that lead to supernovae. The first (Type Ia) involves a white dwarf accreting matter from a binary companion star. Once the white dwarf is destabilized, either by achieving a mass of over 1.4 solar masses (known as the Chandrasekhar limit) or by accumulating enough helium on its surface, it explodes, leaving no remnant. The other main pathway that forms a supernova (Type II) is the evolution of a star with a mass greater than eight solar masses. At the end of such a star's evolution it explodes, resulting in a neutron star or (for the most massive stars) a stellar-mass black hole.

Supernovae are the source of many of the chemical elements, especially those heavier than magnesium.

Related Terms:

• Binary Star
• Black Hole
• Neutron Star
• Nova
• Solar Mass
• Stellar Remnants
• White Dwarf
• Gamma Ray Burst
• Standard Candle

Term and definition status: This term and its definition have been approved by a research astronomer and a teacher

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