Why stars look spiky in images from the James Webb Space Telescope - The Verge

Reflecting telescopes, like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, produce “diffraction spikes” when they are used to image bright objects like stars. JWST’s unique design means that it has eight spikes. Here’s why.

Diffraction spikes are so in right now The first full-color image released from the JWST. Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Stars in the new images from the James Webb Space Telescope look sharper than… [+4219 chars]

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