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  • A nova occurs when a white dwarf or neutron star in a binary star system collects enough hydrogen from its partner star's wind and/or flares to trigger fusion. The entire collected hydrogen atmosphere around the star suddenly undergoes fusion and converting to helium very much like in an enormous yield fusion bomb. This will repeat over and over again, as long as the partner star can supply hydrogen.
  • A supernova occurs when a high mass star dies and becomes a neutron star. As the core collapses because fusion burns out and radiation pressure can no longer hold it up, then degenerate electron pressure can not hold it up, the electrons are forced into the nucleus and combine with protons to form neutrons, the strong force causes the nuclei to merge into one ball of neutrons: a neutron star. The surface of the neutron star is very hard and as additional matter from the original star continues to fall in and merge into the neutron star, a "traffic jam" occurs and the shockwave resulting from this reflects off the super hard surface of the neutron star, driving the supernova explosion. Suddenly everything falling in is now rushing out. This can only occur once.
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Are novas or novae classified into different types?

No, a nova is a star showing a sudden large increase in brightness and then slowly returning to its original state over a few months. Novae are caused by a cataclysmic nuclear explosion on a white dwarf, which causes a sudden brightening of the star and they can repeat on the same star as material repeatedly builds up on its surface from a nearby companion. They are therefore always in a binary system. Novas/Novea should not be confused with "Supernovae" which are different and are classified into different types.


Will a red giant star end as a supernova?

Not exactly. Red giants become white dwarf stars. It is the red supergiants that can become supernovas.


What happens when the outward force of pressure wins out over gravity in an old star?

When the outward force of pressure wins over gravity in an old star, the star will expand and cool, becoming a red giant. This process occurs as the star exhausts its nuclear fuel and transitions to a different phase of stellar evolution.


What is the origin of the word supernova?

Novas have been noted for over 150 years now. But until well into the 20th century, it was thought that all novas were pretty much the same thing, it's just that some were bigger than others. Today we know that a "regular" nova is a very different thing from a supernova, and one of the biggest differences is size. So the logical name for the better understood "large, hot star type of nova" was simply to call it a "supernova". It is not the same thing at all as a "regular" nova, it's mechanics and chemistry are very different.


What are the different celestial bodies present in universe?

Galaxy Super clusters Galaxy Clusters Local Galaxy groups Spiral, elliptical and dwarf Galaxies (quasars and blazers) Voorwerps Spiral arms Nebulae (of numerous sorts) Star clusters (open and globular) Stars (quark stars, neutron stars, whore dwarfs, red giant stars, main sequence stars (of all sizes)) Novas, Supernovas and planetary nebulae Black holes Planets (and dwarf planets) Moons Planetary rings asteroids, Oort cloud and Kuiper belt objects and comets meteoroids dust