supernova is an explosion marking the end of a stars evolution. For the star, a supernova is a quick and glorious death. In the last few minutes of its life the star releases more energy than it has generated in its entire existence, brightens to several billion times the luminosity of the Sun, and radiates energy at a greater rate than all the other stars in the galaxy combined. These explosions are classified into two major categories: Type I and II.

ccurs in a binary system in which one star is a White Dwarf. The explosion is triggered when mass from the companion star falls onto the White Dwarf raising its mass above the Chandrasekhar limit and causing the star to collapse. This collapse heats the white dwarf in such a way that its carbon and oxygen fuse explosively, destroying the star and leaving no remnant.

ccurs when a massive star's core collapses. These supernovas leave behind Neutron Stars or Black Holes, depending on the mass of the collapsed core.