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Kinda wild you can just order an astronomy laser
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this post was submitted on 29 May 2026
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Chapotraphouse
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The laser isn't for alignment or tracking. It is used as a guide source for adaptive optics systems to correct for atmospheric distortions.
No, the laser is used for polar alignment. It's not correcting for distortions. Thats what image stacking and post processing is for.
It is quite literally pointing it at the North Star or Polaris Australis to get on a polar alignment.
You aren't doing two minute nebula photos w it, but you can get aligned good enough to take 20 second photos w a wide angle fast lens.
Backyardastrophotography and Nebula Photos have a video or two showing them doing this exact thing on YT, with a laser if you need reference
I'm using a DSLR, not a telescope