What is a Supernova Explosion (SNe)?
super – 1: very large or powerful (a superatomic bomb) 2: exhibiting the characteristics of its type to an extreme or excessive degree (supersecrecy) nova – Etymology: New Latin, feminine of Latin novus, new. Plural: novae 1: a star that suddenly increases its light output tremendously and then fades away to its former obscurity in a few or years – Merrian-Webster Dictionary Supernovae were named because they were objects that appeared to be ‘new’ stars, that hadn’t been observed before in the well-known heavens. Of course, the name is actually a bit ironic, since supernovae are actually stars at the end of their lifecycle, stars that are going out with a bang, so to speak. A SNe is the instantaneous release of ~1051 ergs (1031 Megatons) of energy, the result of either the catastrophic collapse of a massive star or runnaway nuclear burning on the surface of a white dwarf. Although only a small fraction of the energy is released in the form of visible light, this is enough to make it ap
