2026-07-072026-07-07http://salesiana.dossiersoluciones.com/handle/123456789/5562The thermalized energy from the radioactive decays of 56Ni and 57Ni and their daughter nuclides power the light curves of supernovae near maximum light. The bolometric light curve gives us a fundamental understanding of the energy evolution of a supernova explosion and the amount of radioactive nuclides produced. In this review, I will discuss the bolometric evolution of the Type IIp supernova SN1987A, and the general class of bolometric light curves of Type Ia thermonuclear explosions.10 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Proc. "From Twilight to Highlight - The Physics of Supernovae" ESO/MPA/MPE Workshop, Garching, July 29 - 31, 2002Astrophysicstext