The first thing to do is switch away from auto modes and put the camera into manual operation, both in terms of exposure and focus.
The first thing to do is switch away from auto modes and put the camera into manual operation, both in terms of exposure and focus. We'd recommend using manual focusing when shooting the night sky because a good deal of light is required for the sensor in a camera to focus accurately. As the night sky is so dark, it won't be able to pick up enough light to hone in on an object accurately. If you have a screen that flips out on the back of your camera, it can be easier to focus, so stars appear as points and not circles. Stopping the lens at infinity isn't enough, so zoom in to the maximum zoom length and use the screen's controls to get your focus as accurate as possible.