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.

Diffraction Spikes, Yes or No - Beginning Deep Sky Imaging

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Webb's Diffraction Spikes

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

Astrophotography

How can an astrophoto shot through a refractor have diffraction

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Diffraction spike - Wikipedia

Astrophotography

how to reduce diffraction spikes - Beginning Deep Sky Imaging

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

photography - What causes horizontal and vertical lines coming out

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

Diffraction pattern around star spikes - Beginning Deep Sky