this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 75 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Not really a bad question. The diffraction spikes have been corrected for.

[–] Thorry84@feddit.nl 29 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Honest question: Do people think stars look like the star shape because of diffraction spikes in refractor telescopes? I thought the star shape pre-dated any refractor telescope. And I don't know how many people would have seen refractor images back in the days to make it so culturally engrained?

The post-processing used in astronomical observations is a really interesting topic. I'm following the debate around the black hole images with great interest. I don't know enough about the specifics to have an opinion, but it is very interesting and has overlap with some of the things I do for work.

[–] IAmNotACat@lemmy.world 32 points 6 months ago

I’ve always wondered this. For now I’ve settled on the hypothesis that all the first astronomers all had astigmatism.

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 23 points 6 months ago (1 children)

People have indeed thought this before telescopes. You'll most likely see diffraction patterns around bright lights because of eyelashes and other imperfections, probably different for each eye but the same for all lights (technically, wavelength also matters but not really on this scale).

[–] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Thought that is how they look like or represented them as such in art?

My understanding was that most understood them as light sources, very similar to how we do, but rather then cosmic body they saw angels or whatever fits their religious framework.

Its not like people where unaccustomed to the night sky, but maybe deeper psychological interpretation plays a role.

[–] criitz@reddthat.com 8 points 6 months ago

Stars can seem spikey to the naked eye

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 14 points 6 months ago

They look star-shaped because of refraction on the atmosphere and in our eyes. Those telescopes just have way larger relative distortions because they do have larger distortions and can see smaller things.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 6 months ago

there are a series of things that can make points of light look spiky: eye defects, eyelashes when squinting, smudgy glasses, etc..

[–] nichtburningturtle@feddit.org 18 points 6 months ago

Why star, if not star shaped?

[–] raoul@lemmy.sdf.org 18 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

It's having a bad hair day, give it a rest!

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 13 points 6 months ago (2 children)

It's always day if you're a star. Or night?

[–] lugal@lemmy.ml 6 points 6 months ago

Yes, that's the problem

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Have you looked at its other side?

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I imagine if I were near Antares and looked the other way, it would very much look like night.

[–] marcos@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

The floor is night!

But that too.

[–] ChaoticNeutralCzech@feddit.org 3 points 6 months ago

I like the corona though.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 15 points 6 months ago

Well of course, because it's spinning too fast. So you don't see the star shape, only the blurry circle!

[–] Anticorp@lemmy.world 12 points 6 months ago (1 children)

A smart and wise person uses this opportunity to teach. A smug asshole uses this opportunity to scoff.

[–] affiliate@lemmy.world 10 points 6 months ago

an even smarter and wiser person uses this opportunity to make a post on c/science_memes

[–] aeronmelon@lemmy.world 9 points 6 months ago

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 5 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

From what angle would you look at the traditional star shape and see a circle?

[–] Hirom@beehaw.org 3 points 6 months ago
[–] TotalFat@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Looks like it's holding a big baby. Awwww!

[–] mihor@lemmy.ml 2 points 6 months ago

I'll take you for a ride. A ride on a meteorite.

[–] moitoi@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 6 months ago

What did I read? Oh boy...