ChrisF, Thanks. I have tried a few times with something less than a really sturdy tripod and had some issues. One time I used a sturdy tripod but left the Vibration Compensation on and it caused shake!
5thShock, Thanks. The "Center of the Universe" is easier to capture when shooting south on a late summer or fall sky.

Great photography is not about being in the right place at the right time, it is about putting yourself in the right place at the right time.