The starburst effect on the pier lights in Hull, Massachusetts reminded me of stars in the night sky. In photography, this effect happens when small, bright light sources, like streetlights or the sun, radiate sharp, pointed rays. You can achieve this by using a small aperture (a high f-stop number like f/16 or f/22).

In the photo above, bright streetlights created the effect, and the long exposure enhanced it by increasing the contrast between the light and the dark surroundings.