this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2024
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Science Memes

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429
Stars (mander.xyz)
submitted 3 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 76 points 3 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 29 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 33 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 23 points 3 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).

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 months ago

Stars can seem spikey to the naked eye

[–] [email protected] 14 points 3 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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 21 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

Yes, that's the problem

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Have you looked at its other side?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

The floor is night!

But that too.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

I like the corona though.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago

Why star, if not star shaped?

[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 months ago

Goodness gracious, great balls of fire!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

Well these guys from Super Mario Galaxy would probably look pretty round from the side I guess.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago

What did I read? Oh boy...

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago

Are we sure it's not a blurry picture of a slice of chorizo?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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