First ever Astro shot

[Peter123]

So last night I went to a darkish spot here in Surrey with a lot of other togs to photograph the Milky way for the first time.
I used a 20mm 1.8 for the attached and didn't use the Nikon's long exposure noise reduction for this shot.

So the questions are
1. What do I need to do to improve (bearing in mind inevitable light pollution and occasional light cloud)?
2. What are those straight white lines? I know any coloured ones are planes (I've got plenty of those) but these seem different. Satellites?

Thanks
Peter

This has been downsized for the forum
25 seconds ISO 1600 @1.8

Image 1 Reduced (1 of 1) by Peter Stephens, on Flickr

 

[Peter123]

Another at 14mm 2.8 ISO 3200 25 seconds

Light pollution and cloud more visible

Image 2 reduced (1 of 1) by Peter Stephens, on Flickr

 

[Cobra]

but these seem different. Satellites?

Very nice Peter, and I would suspect so.
But I'm sure someone with much more knowledge will be along shortly.

 

[woof woof]

They both look good to me Peter and for first attempts even more so Well done

 

[ancient_mariner]

The straight white lines could be either satellites or meteors.

 

[AstroNebulee]

Wow, for a first attempt it's amazing well done. I'd wish my first astro shot was a good as yours. The white lines are indeed satellites, there are tens of thousands of the chuffers up there blighting our night sky. You may have a meteor in the middle left but generally meteors go out with a bigger flash at the end.
Lee