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Supernova: Difference between revisions
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{{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|HCW|Post}} | {{Era|Forerunner|Covenant|Human|UNSC|HCW|Post}} | ||
{{Wikipedia}} | {{Wikipedia}} | ||
[[File:Requiem destruction.png|thumb|275px|[[Epoloch system|Epoloch]] goes supernova after consuming Requiem.]] | [[File:Requiem destruction.png|thumb|275px|[[Epoloch system|Epoloch]] goes supernova after consuming Requiem.]] | ||
A '''supernova''' (plural: ''supernovae'' or ''supernovas'') is a stellar explosion. They are extremely luminous and cause a burst of [[radiation]] that may briefly outshine an entire [[Milky Way|galaxy]] before fading from view over several weeks or months. During this short interval, a supernova can radiate as much energy as the [[Sol|Sun]] could emit over its life span. The explosion expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to a tenth the speed of light, driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Supernova|'''Wikipedia''': ''Supernova'']]</ref> | A '''supernova''' (plural: ''supernovae'' or ''supernovas'') is a stellar explosion. They are extremely luminous and cause a burst of [[radiation]] that may briefly outshine an entire [[Milky Way|galaxy]] before fading from view over several weeks or months. During this short interval, a supernova can radiate as much energy as the [[Sol system|Sun]] could emit over its life span. The explosion expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to a tenth the speed of light, driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium. This shock wave sweeps up an expanding shell of gas and dust called a supernova remnant.<ref>[[Wikipedia:Supernova|'''Wikipedia''': ''Supernova'']]</ref> | ||
On average, supernovae occur about once every 50 years in a galaxy the size of the [[Milky Way]] and play a significant role in enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements. Furthermore, the expanding shock waves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars. | On average, supernovae occur about once every 50 years in a galaxy the size of the [[Milky Way]] and play a significant role in enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements. Furthermore, the expanding shock waves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars. | ||