Astronomy & Space Science · AST-371
Core-Collapse Supernovae & Stellar Remnants: Foundations
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Overview
Core model: Core-Collapse Supernovae & Stellar Remnants
Core-collapse supernovae occur when a massive star builds a central core that can no longer support itself. Collapse drives the core to nuclear densities, forms a neutron star or black hole, and powers an explosion that ejects much of the overlying star at thousands of kilometers per second.
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References & evidence
Source library for this chapter
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- 01The Death of Stars — SummaryOpen source ↗
OpenStax Astronomy 2e
View claim-by-claim traceability3 verified claims
Supernova light curves, spectra, expanding remnants, radioactive decay signatures, compact remnants, and the neutrino burst from SN 1987A all support the core-collapse model.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026Iron fusion cannot provide net energy under ordinary stellar conditions, while electron captures and photodisintegration reduce support as the core grows unstable.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026Core-collapse supernovae occur when a massive star builds a central core that can no longer support itself.
supported · checked Sep 22, 2026