Go to manual mode and open the aperture. The 55-200mm lens has a max aperture of f4, I believe, and that isn't great for night photography. A 50mm f1.8, f1.4, or faster would be best.
Depending on the amount of light available in your area, you will have to play with the ISO and the exposure time. A dark desert will have far less ambient light than in a city. You will likely need a tripod in manual mode, depending on your ISO and exposure settings.