10 stunning images of supernovas shared by NASA

A supernova is a powerful explosion of a star that occurs at the end of its life cycle. Supernovas are among the most energetic and spectacular events in the universe, releasing enormous amounts of light, heat, and radiation. They also create and disperse heavy elements that are essential for the formation of planets and life. NASA’s telescopes and observatories have captured many stunning images of supernovas and their remnants in different wavelengths of light. Here are 10 of them that showcase the beauty and diversity of these cosmic fireworks.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the bright supernova SN 2014J in the galaxy M82, also known as the Cigar Galaxy. The supernova was discovered in January 2014 and was the closest Type Ia supernova observed in the past four decades. Type Ia supernovae are caused by the thermonuclear explosion of a white dwarf star in a binary system. They are important for measuring cosmic distances and the expansion of the universe.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the expanding shell of gas and dust from the supernova SN 1006, which occurred in the year 1006 AD. It was the brightest supernova ever recorded in history, and was visible to the naked eye for over two years. The supernova remnant is about 7,000 light-years away from Earth and spans about 60 light-years. The image combines data from X-ray, optical, and radio wavelengths, revealing the complex structure and dynamics of the shock wave.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the spiral galaxy NGC 2770, which has hosted four supernovas in the past 13 years. The galaxy is about 88 million light-years away from Earth and has a high rate of star formation, which fuels the production of massive stars that end their lives as supernovas. The image also shows the supernova SN 2008D, which was detected by the Swift satellite in January 2008 as a bright X-ray flash.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the faint and wispy supernova remnant in the constellation of Antlia, the Air Pump. The supernova remnant is about 250,000 light-years away from Earth and is one of the largest and oldest known, spanning about 4 degrees on the sky. The image was taken by the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) on the Blanco 4-meter telescope in Chile, and shows the intricate filaments and loops of the remnant, which are glowing in red and green colors.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova remnant of Johannes Kepler’s famous supernova, which he observed and described in 1604. The supernova was the last naked-eye supernova seen in our galaxy, and was brighter than any other star in the night sky. The supernova remnant is about 20,000 light-years away from Earth and is about 14 light-years across. The image combines data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope, and the Calar Alto Observatory, showing the hot gas, dust, and optical emission from the remnant.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova SN 2010jl in the galaxy UGC 5189A, which is about 160 million light-years away from Earth. The supernova was discovered in November 2010 and was classified as a Type IIn supernova, which is a rare type of supernova that interacts with a dense circumstellar medium. The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in December 2010, and shows the bright supernova and its surrounding nebula, which is glowing in blue and green colors.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova remnant SNR 0519-69.0 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The supernova remnant is about 160,000 light-years away from Earth and is about 23 light-years across. The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2010, and shows the ring-shaped structure of the remnant, which is composed of glowing gas and dust. The supernova remnant is the result of a Type Ia supernova, which exploded about 600 years ago.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova SN 2006gy in the galaxy NGC 1260, which is about 240 million light-years away from Earth. The supernova was discovered in September 2006 and was the brightest and most energetic supernova ever recorded, with a peak luminosity of about 50 billion suns. The supernova was classified as a Type IIn supernova, which is a rare type of supernova that involves the collapse of a very massive star. The image was taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory in 2007, and shows the X-ray emission from the supernova and its interaction with the surrounding medium.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova SN 1993J in the galaxy M81, which is about 12 million light-years away from Earth. The supernova was discovered in March 1993 and was the second brightest supernova of the 20th century, after SN 1987A. The supernova was classified as a Type IIb supernova, which is a type of supernova that involves the loss of the hydrogen envelope of a massive star before the explosion. The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009, and shows the optical and infrared emission from the supernova and its expanding shell of gas and dust.

Image: NASA/APOD

This image shows the supernova SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. The supernova was discovered in February 1987 and was the closest supernova observed since the invention of the telescope. The supernova was classified as a Type II supernova, which is a type of supernova that involves the core collapse of a massive star. The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2017, and shows the optical and infrared emission from the supernova and its surrounding ring of gas, which was ionized by the shock wave from the explosion.

Image: NASA/APOD