Cosmic Collisions: Supergiant vs. Neutron Star Paperback by Dr. Marc J. Kuchner; illustrated by Matt Schu

Product Details

• Publisher: MIT Kids Press (2025-04-15)
• Language: English
• Paperback: 48 pages
• ISBN-13: 9781536242256
• Item Weight: 181.44 grams
• Dimensions: 9.0 x 7.13 x 0.2 cm

Two massive stars face off, ready to tussle! Who will prevail? Readers get the stats from an expert astrophysicist and make their predictions before the final exciting KA-PLOOSH!

It’s time for the next round of outer-space, crash-and-smash fun, and this matchup is colossal! Two red supergiants are facing each other, ready for a scuffle. Each cranks out 100,000 times as much power as the Sun. (Don’t get too close or you’ll roast like a weenie in a campfire.) These mighty stars are equally matched, so either could come out on top—but hold on! One of the contenders has just exploded! And it’s left behind a neutron star with supernova energy. Now who will be left standing after this interstellar smackdown? It’s another collision of cosmic proportions in this fast-paced, fact-packed series, crammed with science, peppy illustrations, and the infectious energy of a live sporting event. Back matter provides even more info for curious fans.

About the Author

Dr. Marc Kuchner is an astrophysicist, author, and science communicator who has published more than 110 professional papers in peer-reviewed literature on topics including white dwarfs, gamma ray bursts, and supernovae, as well as articles for Astronomy Today, Physics World, and Scientific American. His debut book, Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times, was called “the first of its kind” by Neil deGrasse Tyson. Marc Kuchner is based in Rhode Island.

Matt Schu is the illustrator of Cut! How Lotte Reiniger and a Pair of Scissors Revolutionized Animation by C. E. Winters and My Cat Does Ballet by Robert Heidbreder. He grew up in Portland, Oregon, and likes drawing trees, rocks, houses, and dark skies.