Autoguide flexures
Autoguide flexures: the use of an autoguider to improve the tracking accuracy of the telescope mount not only requires a sensitive camera and a good guide telescope (or an off-axis guider) but also a properly machined mechanical system that is able of supporting it without problems or flexures.
I decided to write an article about it when, last week, I received a call for help by an amateur astronomer who could not guide: despite the guide graph that he observed in PHD Guiding software was good, without obvious peaks or tracking errors, the images were “moved” and the stars elongated. I do not have with me his pictures but here you have an example of how the image may appear.
![Autoguide flexures: the use of unsuitable mechanical supports generates flexures and then ruin the images.](https://www.primalucelab.com/wp/astronomia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/02/M17.jpg)
![Autoguide flexures: cheap guide rings.](https://www.primalucelab.com/wp/astronomia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/02/cheap_guide_rings-650x441.jpg)
![Autoguide flexures: our PLUS guide rings avoid flexures.](https://www.primalucelab.com/wp/astronomia/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/02/anelli_guida_PLUS_135mm_guide_rings_1-650x650.jpg)
![Autoguide flexures: PLUS guide rings allow to support the guide telescope preventing dangerous flexures.](https://www.primalucelab.com/wp/astronomy/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/02/DSC03056.jpg)
€86.07