Short field notes on night-sky photography
The core sets earlier every week now, so the window after astronomical twilight is short. A 20 mm lens at f/2 and 15 seconds keeps the stars round enough; anything longer starts to trail at the edges of the frame.
A clear sky with a gibbous moon washes out everything faint. Plan around the new moon first, then pick the clearest night inside that week.
A USB hand-warmer strap around the lens barrel is enough for a few hours on a damp night. Keep the power bank in an inside pocket so it does not lose charge in the cold.