[Redcloak]

You've called it correctly FreedomCalls. This is simply out-of-focus light. The odd, but symetrical, shape is a combination of pixel saturation from the brightest parts of the image and features in the camera's entrance pupil. (such as pick-offs for the exposure sensor and the auto-focus sensor)

And no, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night; I'm an optical engineer.

[jaugust]

Until I hear from other experts I will yield to those who are experts in the field of optics. But even still, it does not take away from the possibility that loss of control could have caused the shuttle to be flying sideways.
Also, NASA is now saying that sensors in the left wing elevon hydraulics gave off the scale readings beginning at 0753, followed by the loss of several other sensors all in the left wing. Some reports have said that the landing gear readings showed elevated temperatures before giving off scale readings. Other reports deny this. I doubt that NASA is going to release much more info because it could lead to more wild speculation and unsubstantiated rumors.

[FreedomCalls]

Final post on the subject.

Here is the image in question.

Here is a photo of the aperture gate in a Sony handheld video camcorder rotated 180 degrees.

And finally, here are the two superimposed on each other.

If you are not now convinced, you one of the tin-foil hat crowd and nothing I post will convince you otherwise.