Supernovae

Crab Nebula, product of the Supernova 1054

Sometimes stars at the end of their life explode, otherwise known as as a supernova. The average galaxy contains 100 billion stars and would experience a supernova about once a century.

So how many supernovae could you see stargazing on an average evening? Zero? It turns out that there are so many bazillions of galaxies out there that just in a thumbnail portion of the sky you would see 10 supernovae a night. Incredible!

- from War of the Worldviews (Chopra & Mlodinow) p61.