supernovae
Dying stars' blasts
Supernovae is the plural of supernova—a star that explodes with extraordinary brightness, briefly outshining entire galaxies before fading.
These catastrophic events occur when massive stars exhaust their fuel or when white dwarfs accumulate too much matter.
The Latin plural supernovae appears in scientific writing; supernovas is equally correct in general use.
Involving nuclear fusion heat
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
- blast wavePressure surge from detonation
nucleosynthesis · fusion · plasma · rebound · implosion · energy release · outburst
Complete system or domain
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
- cosmologyStudy of universal structure
astrophysics · redshift · quasars · dark matter · big bang · space-time · cosmic rays · Hubble
Interstellar gas formation
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
- Crab NebulaSupernova remnant, pincer-shaped
filaments · magnetic field · cooling · debris · heavy elements · enrichment · Tycho · Kepler
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
- discoveryAct of finding something
historical records · guest star · magnitude · photometry · distance measurement · early warning · gravitational waves
Very large celestial body
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
- main sequenceStable stellar burning phase
- protostarPre-fusion celestial body
star cluster · binary system · photosphere · stellar wind · iron core
Gradual loss of intensity
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- afterglowLingering light or feeling
- brighteningIncreasing in light
- visibilityRange of clear sight
short-lived · ephemeral · fleeting · outburst · variable · detection · survey · alert
thermonuclear
Involving nuclear fusion heat
- detonationExplosive ignition event
- shockwavePropagating pressure disturbance
- ejectaMaterial forcibly discharged
blast wave · nucleosynthesis · fusion · plasma · rebound · implosion · energy release · outburst
universe
Complete system or domain
- galaxiesGravitationally bound stellar assemblies
- nebulaeInterstellar gas clouds
- interstellarBetween celestial bodies
cosmology · astrophysics · redshift · quasars · dark matter · big bang · space-time · cosmic rays · Hubble · observable universe
nebula
Interstellar gas formation
- pulsarMagnetized rotating neutron emitter
- neutron starUltradense stellar remnant
- black holeCollapsed star's remnant
Crab Nebula · filaments · magnetic field · cooling · debris · heavy elements · enrichment · Tycho · Kepler
telescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
- spectroscopyStudy of light-matter interaction
- redshiftWavelength stretch from recession
- classificationSystematic grouping by traits
discovery · historical records · guest star · magnitude · photometry · distance measurement · early warning · gravitational waves
massive star
Very large celestial body
- red giantAged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
- main sequenceStable stellar burning phase
protostar · star cluster · binary system · photosphere · stellar wind · iron core
fading
Gradual loss of intensity
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- afterglowLingering light or feeling
- brighteningIncreasing in light
visibility · short-lived · ephemeral · fleeting · outburst · variable · detection · survey · alert · follow-up
- supernova explosion
- supernova remnantMaterial ejected by dying star