New Project Research

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/h0ndzhvw/photographing-the-night-sky-star-trails.html

Key Points: (Quoted)(Added)

• To photograph the stars in the sky as pinpoints of light, start with as wide an f/stop as your lens allows, and shutter speed of about 20 seconds. Any more time than that and the stars will begin to blur. Increase the ISO as needed for a good exposure.
• High Dynamic Range (HDR): One technique is to take multiple shots, bracketing or varying the actual exposure time, and merge them as HDR which you can composite with the final image of the properly exposed sky.
• High-dynamic-range imaging (HDRI or HDR) is a set of techniques used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than standard digital imaging or photographic techniques can do. The aim is to present the human eye with a similar range of luminance as that which, through the visual system, is familiar in everyday life. 
• Speedlights: while the shutter is open, press the Speedlight’s Flash button. As with the constant light, move the Speedlight across the scene to allow the flash to illuminate the entire foreground.
• “If a night scene includes low-lying clouds…these clouds are likely to reflect colors of the night sky, and to amplify whatever effect was already present,” explains Harold (Harold Davis)
• D4, 14-24mm f/2.8 lens, 25 sec., f/4, ISO 4000, Matrix metering, manual exposure. Speedlights with red and yellow gels manually "popped" to paint light onto foreground.

http://www.nikonusa.com/en/Learn-And-Explore/Article/i24iqk33/photograph-the-classic-holiday-light-bokeh-effect.html

Key Points: (Quoted)

• A classic shot that many photographers take is the out of focus or bokeh view of colorful holiday lights. Experiment with strands of color and white lights. In either aperture priority or manual exposure modes, select the fastest aperture that your lens allows and using the camera's meter, expose correctly. With the lens focused manually, you can defocus the lights for this classic look. Exposure: 1/80 of a second shutter speed, f/4 aperture, ISO 5600, aperture priority.
  

More research 

Good website for night photography:

http://mostlylisa.com/blog/night-photography-a-guide-on-how-to-shoot-long-exposures/