supernovae Definition
- 1a rare astronomical event that occurs during the last stellar evolutionary stages of a massive star's life, whose dramatic and catastrophic destruction is marked by one final, titanic explosion
- 2the explosion itself
Using supernovae: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "supernovae" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The supernova was visible from Earth for several weeks.
Example
Supernovae are important sources of heavy elements in the universe.
Example
The supernova explosion released an enormous amount of energy.
supernovae Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for supernovae
- nova
- stellar explosion
Phrases with supernovae
a specific type of supernova that occurs in binary star systems and is used as a standard candle for measuring cosmic distances
Example
Type Ia supernovae have been used to measure the expansion rate of the universe.
core-collapse supernova
a specific type of supernova that occurs when a massive star runs out of fuel and its core collapses, leading to a massive explosion
Example
Core-collapse supernovae are responsible for most of the heavy elements in the universe.
the expanding shell of gas and dust that is left behind after a supernova explosion
Example
The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant that resulted from a supernova observed in 1054 AD.
Summary: supernovae in Brief
A 'supernova' [ˌsuːpərˈnoʊvi] is a rare astronomical event that marks the catastrophic destruction of a massive star. It is characterized by a titanic explosion that releases an enormous amount of energy and heavy elements into the universe. Supernovae come in different types, including Type Ia and core-collapse supernovae, and leave behind a supernova remnant. They are important sources of heavy elements in the universe and have been used to measure cosmic distances.
