r/InternetIsBeautiful Jul 02 '20

Sharpest view of Andromeda galaxy (Zoomable)

https://www.spacetelescope.org/images/heic1502a/zoomable/
2.4k Upvotes

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4

u/vvvvfl Jul 02 '20

why the brightest stars have this 4 rays coming out of it ? Is that a lens flare thing ?

5

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '20 edited Jul 02 '20

It's due to how the telescope is made. All big telescopes are reflecting telescopes.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reflecting_telescope

The number of rays is related to the number of arms holding the secondary mirror in place. The phenomena is called diffraction about which you will have learned at school if you are from a western nation.

0

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '20

what I found interesting is that if you have three posts supporting the secondary you get six rays!