Pictures of stars often display four cardinal points, known as diffraction spikes, which are caused by the internal support structure of telescopes, particularly those with spider vanes. The number of spikes can vary depending on the design of the telescope, with some configurations allowing for six or even eight spikes. Bright stars produce more pronounced spikes, while fainter stars may not show them due to lower contrast against the background. The spikes help distinguish point sources like stars from extended sources such as planets or galaxies. Overall, diffraction spikes are a common optical phenomenon in astrophotography, influenced by the telescope's design and the brightness of the observed stars.