Stars don't actually have spikes. The "spikes" you see in photos are an artifact of how telescopes and cameras work, not a real feature of the stars themselves.

Here's why:

* Diffraction: Light bends around obstacles, a phenomenon called diffraction. When light from a star passes through the aperture (opening) of a telescope or camera lens, it diffracts, creating a pattern of light and dark rings.

* Support Structures: Telescopes and cameras often have support structures inside the aperture, like struts or vanes. These structures also cause diffraction, but in a more pronounced way, leading to bright "spikes" radiating outward from the star's image.

* Shape of the Aperture: The number and shape of the spikes are directly related to the shape of the aperture. For example, a circular aperture produces rings, while a rectangular aperture produces a cross-shaped diffraction pattern.

So, the "spikes" you see are not part of the star itself, but rather a result of how light interacts with the equipment used to capture its image.