Expert: Steve Nelson - 3/27/2010

Question
Dear Steve

I'm confused!

Many years ago I saw some very interesting objects that I’m convinced were plasma. Since then I have done a lot of research and I’m convinced that these objects can be truly huge!
The only problem is I’m not so sure what the limits of these objects might be and I keep "wondering" if it might be the stars! (I can’t take myself too seriously, but I must admit that I’m intrigued by my thoughts and I would appreciate your help).
I do see an obviouse problem with my thinking and that’s mass, but then my mind comes up with an alternative that powerful magnetic fields might play a much bigger role in the evolution of stars. Furthermore, I've wondered if this magnetic field were to diminish the object might no longer be producing plasma but it might have gained enough mass to have evolved into a planet. In my mind this might mean that planets with magnetic fields might still be capable of throwing out the odd plasma now and then, and this might suit my previous idea that I’ve called earth flares.
Again, I won’t take this too seriously, but I would appreciate your oppinion. I can’t discount that i saw plasma objects, however. You may wish to read where I have mentioned the objects i saw and my earth flare idea.

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Astronomy-1360/2009/1/Earth-Flares-1.htm

This is one that I sent to you:  http://en.allexperts.com/q/Physics-1358/2009/3/ufo.htm

This next question was about an object that produced jets:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Astronomy-1360/2009/1/Earth-Flares-2.htm
I claimed the last object had jets forming a cross shape. I have done a lot of studying on this subject and have only found several cases where crosses have been detailed, but I have found many where beams or rays have been mentioned. (This may be a rare, very early account of a cross, wrongly attributed to the crab nebula.  Quote: Chinese astronomers described the star as having pointed rays in all four directions and a reddish-white color).  
See this web page: http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/star/pulsar/1996/22/background...

Many thanks for any help.

David

Answer
I had trouble digging an actual question out until the end, it appears you're most concerned with the cross-shape.  Have you ever driven with a wet windshield and seen streetlights?  They develop a distinct cross shape due to scattering.  This is most likely not a property of the object itself but due to the clouds you mention and water droplets and scattering.  Most likely, the object itself is perfectly spherically symmetric.