Ask Astro: What causes the pattern of diffraction spikes in astronomical images?

The spikes around bright stars in deep images are caused by the way light interacts with the shape of a telescope’s mirrors and the struts holding them.

How can we differentiate stars versus galaxies in photos from the

Strange Diffraction Spikes in Stars - help needed - Experienced

Spikes and Halos — Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

Diffraction Spikes, Yes or No - Beginning Deep Sky Imaging

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Astrophotography

Astrophotography

July 2023 Issue

Astronomy Staff, Author at

x-bit-astro-imaging: Diffraction spikes attractive and sometimes

포이에마 스카이 poiemasky (@poiemasky) / X

Diffraction spikes - what they are and how to get them right

Diffraction Spikes, Yes or No - Beginning Deep Sky Imaging

Why do all the stars have 8 points in the James Webb images? An