Hi Rich,
Mostly fixed.
Do I win a prize?
I could get it more perfect with more time but it is resolving with what I have done already:
1. duplicate layer set to difference
2. opacity slider to suit.
3. layers/hide all/paint brush set to about 25% and foreground set to white
4. run in the areas of the reflection only.
5. flatten image
6. Healing brush set to luminosity and smallish size brush. Do small areas at a time and not necessarily always straight lines, avoid the stars.
7. Alternate as needed with dodge tool (to brighten darker lines of the reflection) and burn tool (to darken lighter areas of the reflection).
Take your time, zoom in and set the brush diameter smallish and don't go at it too hard or it will stand out.
8. Curves to rebrighten the image a bit as it got darker in steps 1-4 above.
Mirrored scopes seem to suffer from reflections more than refractors.
My Planewave CDK17 is quite prone to this hence the above.
is your secondary mirror housing flocked? I am thinking of doing that to the CDK. Or perhaps a bigger secondary baffle? The CDk has 4 secondary baffles and still gets reflection/spikes although not like that where you see the spider and secondary mirror more of a light flare. Hence the healing brush set to luminosity as it is more of a problem in differences in brightness than anything else.
http://www.pbase.com/gregbradley/image/131601506
Greg.