Start by finding the Big Dipper, one of the most recognizable star patterns in the sky. It is part of the constellation Ursa Major, the big bear. It is shown here on its side, as it appears on early evenings in the fall. For other seasons and times of night, rotate the chart as needed to match what you see in the northern sky. Finding Polaris may be the best-known star hop of all: The two stars at the end of Big Dipper's bowl are called "the pointers" because they point to Polaris, about 30 degrees away.
Once you have centered on Polaris, it is good to use fairly high power to help see its dim companion. But use a low-power eyepiece to view the entire Engagement Ring. Note the orientation of the Engagement Ring relative to Yildun, the star nearest to Polaris in the handle of the Little Dipper.
