Best Nikon lens for Astrophotography? - 1

For the value of £400 maximum?

Don't know a thing about the Nikon lineup, since I use a Canon attached to an 11" telescope, but below are some general guidelines on what to look for.

Go with a prime, instead of a zoom, better overall optics. No need for auto anything lens either, since you'l be focusing at infinity anyway (get a lens that has a decent focusing and aperture rings on it). So you can even get away with using the older Nikon lenses, or even the M42 Pentax type, with an adapter. Then you can save a few pounds by getting used equipment and buy a variety of focal lengths.

For long exposures, you'll need a remote such as an intervalometer, or controlled by a computer. The less you have to physically touch the camera while shooting, better.
https://www.amazon.com/...B003Y2YTEE

You'll also need a polar aligned and tracking support system, unless all you're doing is star trails. The one below is quite good. But you will need a really sturdy tripod to mount the thing on.
http://astrotrac.com/astrotrac-tt320x-ag.html

Or this, which works reasonably well.
http://www.ioptron.com/product-p/3302b.htm

And if you go with a fixed camera on a tripod, just be aware that the longer the focal length, the less exposure time you'll have before trailing appears (the 500 rule).
http://petapixel.com/2015/01/06/avoid-star-trails-following-500-rule/

And of course, the higher the ISO you use, the more noise that will appear in your final product. For my T5i, I found that going no more than 1600 ISO, usually gives better results, when doing pretty pictures.

And learn about image stacking too. Doing several short exposures and summing them up together, is always better than one long exposure.
http://dslr-astrophotography.com/benefits-adding-frames-stack/ You can buy a telescope with an attachment for mounting the Nikon. Celestron is one brand I know of. You need to google and do research.

You can buy a telescope with an attachment for mounting the Nikon. Celestron is one brand I know of. You need to google and do research.