ARG0002588

• by carolynjoy

  The IR looks like it has the jets on it. Anyone know why there is that large streak? Thanks.

  Posted January 7, 2014 2:00 AM

• by firejuggler

  the large streakis most likelly something produced by a nearby star.

  Posted January 7, 2014 2:19 AM

• by DocR scientist

  unfortunate situation with WISE, SDSS shows two nearby stars and the likely real identification.

  Posted January 7, 2014 2:54 AM

• by JeanTate in response to carolynjoy's comment.

  In many, perhaps most, cases the 'streaks' are diffraction spikes, a well-known kind of artifact caused by light from a nearby very bright star (it has to do with the 'vanes' or 'spider' which holds the secondary mirror in the telescope in place).

  While the diffraction spikes in this SDSS image are quite different from those in the WISE (IR) image - they're different telescopes! - you can see that there are four bright stars nearby (this SDSS image is zoomed out):

  

  Posted January 7, 2014 11:33 AM