Would really like to see the servo mechanism that moves the scope in the precise alignment. 38 hours is a long time considering earths rotation...
The 38 hours would be over multiple days, probably weeks. Modern telescope mounts which are well polar aligned can track very well. There is also the use of a guide scope which fixates on a star or star field making slight adjustments to the mount as needed. Accuracy within a couple of pixels is possible. Digital cameras and computerization has revolutionized (amateur) astronomy such that a $500 smart scope will do better than professional rigs of 30 years ago.
It takes several days to get that much exposure. Not a cheap telescope by any means.
38 hours of accumulated data, over multiple nights. The software stacks it all. That’s a LOT of data…
This is the computer that controls my mount.
https://www.zwoastro.com/product/asiair-plus/
And this is my mount the follows the stars.
https://www.zwoastro.com/product/zwo-am3-harmonic-equatorial-mount/
And this is my telescope
https://agenaastro.com/askar-103apo-triplet-apo-refractor-telescope.html
I shot the same target last month, but didn’t get nearly as much data as the APOD picture.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=9337713106346121&set=a.3599444953506327