OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

When a really big star gets very old, it runs out of fuel. Without fuel, the star cannot hold itself up anymore and it collapses. Then it bounces back in a massive explosion called a supernova! The explosion sends star stuff flying out into space. This leftover material can become part of new stars and even new planets.

• Our Sun will not become a supernova because it is not big enough.
• Only the biggest stars explode this way.
• After a supernova, the center of the star can become a super-dense object called a neutron star or even a black hole.
• Many of the elements that make up your body were created inside stars that exploded as supernovas long ago!