... WFPC2 , HST , NASA Explanation: Unusual appendages around bright stars are commonplace, but never seem to be mentioned. ... First, a telescope brings starlight falling over a large area to a small area . ... These annoying spikes steal precious light from the central image and hide light from fainter, more interesting stars. Above, astronomers are more interested in the half-circled point near the image center, than the cool-looking diffraction spikes from the bright star at the bottom. ...