Those spikes are caused by the diffraction of light around the supports for a reflecting telescope’s secondary mirror.
Why do images of stars often show four spikes radiating from the stars’ centers?
Len and Carolynn Strilchuk, Vernon, British Columb
![Albireo (Beta [β] Cygni) is a classic example of a double star with contrasting colors.](https://www.astronomy.com/uploads/2024/08/Albireo.jpg)
