Thanks for that, Joe! Yes, the Pentax KP (which is destined to become their flagship model, by the sound of things) does not c ome with an inbuilt GPS unit, The unit I bought was an optional extra and is sold apparently mainly for people who want to have info on the Exif files of where the photo was taken. It also just happens to have this ASTROTRACER function that uses the movement of the sensor to follow the stars. They reckon that you can shoot a max exposure up to 5 minutes depending what lens you have on it.
To get the ASTROTRACER working you have to turn the camera through 360 degrees on all 3 axies - thus ensuring that you get the strap all muddled up and have to be careful you dont drop it! Apart from that, EASY PEASY
One question, though..
......All astro photography tutorials say how you have to do long exposures to capture the light - on all cameras - so how is it that last night I took a photo of the Southern Cross with my Pentax, ISO 1600 and F1.4 and 60 sec and it came out looking quite good. I then cranked up the exposure to 200 sec and it came out horribly white - presumably overexposed....
SO What's the go with long exposures of many minutes? How come those pictures aren't washed out??? I must be missing something... HELP