What causes the characteristic six-pointed flare seen in JWST images of stars?
Answer
The telescope's hexagonal mirrors and support struts
The distinctive six-pointed flare observed in images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope is an optical effect known as diffraction. This occurs because of the physical structure of the telescope. The primary mirror is constructed from hexagonal segments, and the secondary mirror is held in place by structural struts. When light from a bright point source, such as a star, interacts with these sharp edges and support structures, the light waves bend and spread out, resulting in the characteristic spike pattern radiating from the center of the image.
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