Supernovas are cosmic fireworks—massive star explosions that outshine entire galaxies and leave awe-inspiring remnants. Get ready to explore 7 amazing facts!
1
A supernova’s core collapse and blast unfolds in just 20 seconds, releasing energies billions of times that of our sun
2
Seen from 1 AU away, a supernova’s glare rivals a hydrogen bomb pressed to your eyeball—truly blinding!
3
Though the explosion is instant, it takes days for the blast to reach its maximum brightness, lighting up its host galaxy
4
In 1987, SN 1987A became the first supernova visible to the naked eye since Kepler’s in 1604—stunning Southern Hemisphere skywatchers
5
Kepler’s Supernova lit our Milky Way sky in 1604—the last supernova visible to our ancestors without a telescope
6
If a supernova erupts within 50 light years, its radiation could strip Earth’s ozone layer and endanger all life
7
Some supernovas unleash gamma-ray bursts so powerful they can incinerate planets across light-years with no warning