What event is characterized by the explosive death of a massive star?

The explosive death of a massive star is known as a supernova. This event occurs when a star exhausts its nuclear fuel and can no longer support the gravitational forces pulling inward. As a result, it undergoes a catastrophic collapse followed by a powerful explosion. During this process, an immense amount of energy is released, along with a burst of radiation and the ejection of the star's outer material into space.

Supernovae are significant for several reasons: they contribute to the formation of elements heavier than iron, which are distributed throughout the universe when the star explodes. This dispersal of elements is essential for the creation of new stars, planets, and even life. The brightness of a supernova can temporarily outshine entire galaxies, allowing astronomers to observe them from great distances.

In contrast, a nova is a less explosive event involving a white dwarf star that accumulates material from a companion star, leading to a sudden increase in brightness without complete destruction. A quasar is a highly energetic and distant active galactic nucleus, while black hole formation refers to the end stage of massive stars that may occur after a supernova if the core collapses sufficiently. While the latter events can be related to the process of stellar evolution, they do not