What+is+a+supernova?

What is a supernova? A supernova is when a a big star explodes rapidly and then it starts to shine very brightly. The plural for supernova is supernovae. Nova or novae means "new" in latin meaning what seems to be a very new bright star shining in the celestial sphere. "Super" which is the prefix allows astronomers and us to distinguish it from an ordinary novae.