[StargazyPi]

So this is an interesting point - the distinctive flare of astronomical photos is caused by light diffracting around the mirror supports within the telescope. We know the proportions of these, and could apply a transform that approximately reverses the effect. So why is it never done?

I suppose the lens flare variant is prettier, and more star-like, but it would be interesting to see the plain variant occasionally.

[thearn4]

I think it's because the deconvolution is a bit tricky (with a few different "knobs" to turn somewhat arbitrarily in the process), and can in some ways be expected to add in more artifacts than it is subtracting.

[deftnerd]

When you use the phrase "distinct lens flare", it actually makes me wonder if the lens flare is truely distinct in the manner that each telescope has a different lens flare "signature".

I wonder if it possible to identify telescopes used to take images from their lens flares to any degree if certainty, like profiling on a bullet can sometimes identify the type of gun it was fired from?