What is the “meridian flip” and when do I need to perform it during long exposures?

The “meridian flip” is a maneuver performed by equatorial telescope mounts during long astrophotography exposures to avoid cable snags and keep the telescope’s tracking accurate. It involves flipping the telescope from one side of the mount to the other when it crosses the meridian, the imaginary line running from north to south through the zenith. Perform the meridian flip when the target object crosses the meridian to ensure uninterrupted tracking and smooth imaging throughout the session.