Why Do Streetlights Look Like Starbursts at Night? | RapidSmartFacts

At night, streetlights sometimes look like glowing starbursts. What causes this? The simple truth

is, your eyes and any lens in front of them are not perfect.

Bright points of light hitting these imperfections can cause the light to spread.

Tiny scratches, dust on lenses, or fine lines in your cornea all contribute.

Diffraction, where light bends around small structures, also plays a role.

Eyelashes or an irregular tear film can add extra 'rays' to this pattern.

People with uncorrected astigmatism often notice even stronger starbursts. Cameras show similar spikes when light

passes through their lens openings. That’s why some photos show neat, repeatable star patterns