Short Answer
A violent stellar explosion marking the death of a massive star is the best answer.
Astrophysics questions often combine observation with first-principles physics. The winning move is to connect the measurement being made, such as luminosity, spectrum, redshift, or orbit, to the physical model behind it.
A supernova is a cataclysmic stellar explosion — either core collapse of a massive star (Type II) or a thermonuclear explosion in a white dwarf (Type Ia).
Why This Answer Is Correct
This is a Easy-level question in Astrophysics & Cosmology. The prompt is really testing whether you can connect the concept to its defining physical relationship instead of picking a nearby-but-wrong term.
Good astrophysics reasoning always asks what the telescope actually measured and what physical quantity that measurement traces.
Choices At A Glance
- A. A double star
- B. A violent stellar explosion marking the death of a massive star
- C. A galaxy collision
- D. A comet impact
When similar options appear on an exam, eliminate the ones that break the core law, use the wrong units, or confuse a definition with a consequence.
Topic Snapshot
Topic: Astrophysics & Cosmology
Difficulty: Easy
Best next move: Re-state the governing law in your own words, then solve one more example from the same topic before moving on.