DIFFRACTION SPIKES

Diffraction spikes are caused by the bending of light as it passes near the crossed metal support-arm system ("spider") that holds our telescope's secondary mirror and instrument package. Diffraction is a physical effect due to the wave nature of light and cannot be eliminated - all point sources of light produce diffraction spikes radiating from the point's center. As a bright point source, each star has spikes radiating from its center. The spikes will be brighter for bright stars and perhaps not visible for fainter stars.

NON-REPORTABLE: Diffraction Spikes

CHARACTERISTICS:
The line is radiating out from a star at the edge of image. If a trail appears at the same position in all three frames of the blinking image, reviewer can confirm that it is not a FMO. The white part of the image is an edge of amplifire. Notice a bright star does not need to be on an image to create diffraction spikes.

NON-REPORTABLE: Diffraction Spikes

CHARACTERISTICS:
The line is similar to satellite trails. But it is unlikely to be caused by a satellite since it appears on all three frames. It is not an ideal FMO candidate since the trail is too long even if it show up on only one frame.

NON-REPORTABLE: Diffraction Spikes from very brigh star

CHARACTERISTICS:
This bright ray is caused by a bright star. Since it appears on all frames, it is not considered a good FMO candidate.