Unveiling the Mystery of 8-Spiked Stars in JWST Images

The iconic eight spikes seen in images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) are a result of the telescope's architecture. The secondary mirror, held by three struts, produces diffraction spikes, with each strut creating two spikes at 90 degrees. The primary mirror, made of 18 hexagonal pieces, also contributes to the spikes. By aligning four spikes from the mirror with four spikes from the struts, a total of eight spikes appear. The shape of the mirrors, particularly the edges, produces the most prominent spikes.