The rare circumstance of an entire star exploding as a supernova is featured in the Stars Zone. The thematic cluster on supernovas explores the fantastic power of these explosions, how they have been observed through history, and the fact that the elements in our bodies were created within these tremendous explosions — we ourselves are starstuff. Images six-feet-across convey the astounding beauty of the bubbles and tendrils of gas resulting from these explosions. This Zone also features a rear projection video on solar activity, a three-foot disk filled with heated fluid that illustrates the convection process within a star, and a satellite dish and computer interactive offering information on the formation and evolution of stars.

Stars Zone Animations
Low-mass Star
Intermediate-mass Star
High-mass Star
Very High-mass Star
Collapse of a Very High-mass Star