* Supernova: This is the explosive death of a star, typically much larger than our Sun. The explosion releases an immense amount of energy, causing the star to shine billions of times brighter than its normal state. It can outshine entire galaxies for weeks or months.
* Nova: This is a sudden brightening of a star, often caused by a white dwarf stealing matter from a companion star. This material accumulates on the white dwarf's surface, eventually leading to a thermonuclear explosion. While novae are incredibly bright, they are far less luminous than supernovae.
Here's a rough comparison:
* Supernova: Luminosity can be 10 billion times greater than the Sun
* Nova: Luminosity can be 10,000 to 100,000 times greater than the Sun
In simpler terms: Imagine a supernova like a gigantic nuclear bomb exploding, while a nova is like a relatively smaller firework.
