supernova
noun
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A nova, despite its name, isn't actually a "new" star, but rather one that wasn't noticed until it exploded, when it may increase in brightness by a million times before returning to its previous state a few days later. A supernova is far larger; a star in its supernova state may emit a billion times as much light as previously. After a few weeks it begins to dim, until it eventually ceases to exist; it's often replaced by a black hole. (Though remains that were shot out into space may survive; those of a great supernova seen in A.D. 1054 are now known as the Crab Nebula.) All this may serve as a warning to those human stars whose fame explodes too rapidly; supernovas of this kind have sometimes vanished by the following year.
Examples of supernova in a Sentence
Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Jan. 2025
The effect is to make type-Ia supernovas look further away than expected and so appear to be moving faster.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
This group has analyzed the most recent and most comprehensive observations of type-Ia supernovas and say the evidence is consistent with a model of the universe that isn’t exploding after all.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024
Rubin's wide field of view will enable it to produce alerts for transient events like supernovas or asteroids within 120 seconds, generating 20 terabytes of data each night, ultimately creating the largest astronomical movie ever.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
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Dictionary Entries Near supernova
Cite this Entry
“Supernova.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supernova. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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supernova
noun
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