Basic tripod and guided Astrophotography tips?

Thank you! That's actually a good site!

I've just tried to take some pix from my backyard approx 30 mins ago. Seems too much light pollution....14mm/2.8 (stopped down to f/3.5), ISO 3200, Long NR on and the RAW photo looks washed out. Only stopping down to f/8 that I had a darker background.

Need to drive far away from the burbs even.