The "500 rule" [0] is useful to know too. Without it, you risk star trails at higher exposure times. Then there's the need to avoid light pollution. This map [1

The "500 rule" [0] is useful to know too. Without it, you risk star trails at higher exposure times. Then there's the need to avoid light pollution. This map [1] isn't super recent, but it's good enough for most use. And lastly, just having enough solar activity [2] to see them, especially at lower latitudes. [0]: https://petapixel.com/2015/01/06/avoid-star-trails-following-500-rule/ https://petapixel.com/2015/01/06/avoid-star-trails-following... [1]: https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/ https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/ [2]: http://www.aurora-service.org/aurora-forecast/ http://www.aurora-service.org/aurora-forecast/