This sequence of animation stills shows an artist’s impression’s view of one of Nature’s most violent processes – a supernova explosion. In 1054 Chinese astronomers observed a new and very bright star that continued to be visible for the next 2 years. A supernova is produced at the end of the life of a massive star when the nuclear processes in the interior of the star can no longer persist. The star collapses, triggering an extreme explosion releasing, at its peak, more energy than an entire galaxy. Shockwaves from supernova explosions can trigger the formation of new stars and solar systems such as our own.

This supernova explosion resulted in the formation of the Crab Nebula - one of Nature’s finest laboratories, where studies of the effects of a supernova explosion can be undertaken.

Credit: ESA/Hubble