Pinched Mirror: Seeing Stars Like Never Before

Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and thought you'd seen every possible way a star could appear in an astrophotograph? Well, prepare to be surprised! This recent astrophotography post, titled "Pinched mirror," showcases a rather unique and humorous take on celestial imaging.

As the poster, @/Bortle_1, humorously notes, "I swear officer. I hardly touched her." This quote, paired with the peculiar star shapes, immediately sets a playful tone. The culprit? A 150p Quattro telescope fitted with a new mirror mask. The resulting stars bear an uncanny resemblance to the Adobe Acrobat logo, prompting a flurry of amusing comments from the astrophotography community.

Questions like "How the hell did you manage to make your stars look like the Adobe acrobat logo" and "Is your mirror making creaking noises??" highlight the unusual nature of the phenomenon. One commenter jokingly asked, "Did you tighten the mirror clips with an impact wrench?" This lighthearted banter perfectly captures the joy and occasional mishaps of pursuing astrophotography.

While the initial visual is startling, the comments also offer a dose of practical advice. As one user points out, "Jokes aside…they’re just there to keep the mirror from falling out. There can, and should be, be a small gap between the clips and mirror." This suggests that the distinctive star shape might be a visual artifact caused by the mirror clips being too tight, potentially distorting the light path.

This post serves as a fantastic reminder that in the world of astrophotography, experimentation and even the occasional "mistake" can lead to fascinating and unexpected results. It's a testament to the creativity and sense of humor within the community, and a visual treat that's definitely worth sharing!