Gravitational collapse

Under gravitational collapse refers to the collapse of a massive star, which is in its final stages; this density and temperature in the center of the star increases markedly.

Through nuclear fusion in massive stars is an iron core which can not release energy by fusion forms. This core is surrounded by a shell of silicon and related atomic nuclei. By the end of the merger and the related energy release of the core of the self-gravity of the star can no resistance to radiation pressure more, and the stellar core collapses within a few milliseconds to a compact object, ie to a neutron star or a black hole, possibly to a - so far hypothetical - quark star. The gravitational collapse also initiates a shock wave, which leads to the shedding of the outer stellar envelope. As a result, the star explodes into a supernova of type II or Ib / c.

The last supernova observed in the vicinity of the Milky Way occurred in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the supernova 1987A. The light from the supernova reached Earth on February 23, 1987.

For a detailed description see also supernova core-collapse section