Weird object near Alnitak

[Xplode]

While looking at some testshots of the Horsehead nebula i noticed something weird near Alnitak that i have never seen before, it looks like a very small star with a ring around it.

It shows up in several images so it''s not a cosmic ray and i cant see it on images with other bright stars so i believe it's not a reflection.

Anyone else seen something like it near Alnitak?

[jrastro]

What scope were you using?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Almost looks like a dust bunny to me

[Steve Ward]

Classic dust bunny ... 

[jrastro]

Sorry for my ignorance I am not an expert at AP

[Xplode]

I used a 12" f/4 newtonian.

I believe a dust bunny should be a dark spot, not a brighter ring with a dot in the middle?

[Steve Ward]

Tiny speck of dust on the sensor itself illuminated by the very bright starlight , were not so well illuminated it would no doubt appear darker.

I have an identical one on my SPC900 ... 

[Zakalwe]

Dust bunny or reflection of a dust bunny.

Near such a bright star all sorts of weird and wonderful reflections and flares will be seen.

[Xplode]

Tiny speck of dust on the sensor itself illuminated by the very bright starlight , were not so well illuminated it would no doubt appear darker.

I have an identical one on my SPC900 ... 

Sounds like a reasonable explanation, thank you

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Much also depends on the location of the dust bunny in the optical path. A dark object in the light path at the right distance from the sensor may show a diffraction maximum at the centre