The greatest fireworks show in the universe

Your Roman candle has nothing on this supernova explosion

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A supernova.
(Image credit: NASA)
A giant star cluster.
(Image credit: (NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), A. Nota (ESA/STScI), and the Westerlund 2 Science Team))

A classical nova called GK Persei.
(Image credit: (NASA))

The star Hen 2-427 and the nebula M1-67 in the constellation Sagittarius.
(Image credit: (ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt))

The Antennae Galaxies.
(Image credit: (Hubble/European Space Agency))

The supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, a once-massive star that died in a violent supernova explosion, with added color.
(Image credit: (NASA/JPL-Caltech/STScI/CXC/SAO))

A Wolf–Rayet star known as WR 31a in the constellation Carina.
(Image credit: (ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt))

An ancient cluster of stars at the edge of the Milky Way galaxy.
(Image credit: (X-ray: NASA/CXC/IASF Palermo/M.Del Santo et al; Optical: NASA/STScI))

A planetary nebula known as The Little Gem Nebula in the constellation Sagittarius.
(Image credit: (ESA/Hubble & NASA, Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt))

The supernova remnant MSH 11-62.
(Image credit: (NASA/CXC/SAO/P. Slane et al.))

The crab nebula, an iconic supernova remnant, in our Milky Way galaxy.
(Image credit: (ESA/Herschel/PACS/MESS Key Programme Supernova Remnant Team; NASA, ESA and Allison Loll/Jeff Hester (Arizona State University)))

Frontier Fields galaxy cluster MACS J0416.
(Image credit: (X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO/G. Ogrean et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI; Radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA))

Lauren Hansen
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.