Astrophotography can be quite rewarding and somewhat challenging. The challenging part is not knowledge or equipment it is first and far most light pollution with weather is a close second. Light pollution eliminates at least 25% of the country for being able to do astrophotography. Clear nights can be hard to come by in some parts of the country. Most astrophotography targets are seasonal. The Milky Way is a spring, summer, fall target and galaxies and nebula tend to be fall, winter and spring targets. For star trails like this image all you need is a hour or so of clear sky any time of the year.