A supernova is a stellar explosion that briefly outshines an entire galaxy, radiating as much energy as the Sun or any ordinary star is expected to emit over its entire life span, before fading from view over several weeks or months. The extremely luminous burst of radiation expels much or all of a star's material at a velocity of up to 7007300000000000000♠30,000 km/s (10% of the speed of light), driving a shock wave into the surrounding interstellar medium.