First attempt on the southern cross, a bit blurred!

[Jayla]

Hi,

It's my first time shooting the southern skies, so obviously I went straight for the iconic crux

I'm using a Nikkon D5100 with an 18-55mm lens.

f/3.5

25 second exposure

ISO 800

I was taking single exposures, in raw + jpeg. I took around 30 photos tonight, varying the ISO/exposure to experiment, however all photos have turned out blurred. What can I do to stop this?

Lots of light pollution from the moon, but I was using tonight as a "practice run"

Thanks

[kalasinman]

Too long an exposure at even 18mm IMO. I shoot 12mm at 15 seconds, no more.

[baggywrinkle]

Go for 15 seconds and use ISO1600.

You can still see the Coal Sack though and the Jewel Box. The Southern Cross has a lot of things going on around and in t. It was a favourite of mine when I lived in WA.

Also do not set the lens to infinity, it will be out of focus. Try infinity then wind back a smidgen if you do not have live view.

I used to do a daytime focus and then make a small pencil mark at the sweet point.

[kalasinman]

Looks like a lot of interesting stuff hiding in there. Stack 100?