How to orient oneself under the night sky:

For middle latitude, in the Northern Hemisphere:

1. Look for the Big Dipper.

Around mid-evening, the Big Dipper, (seven stars, mostly second magnitude)
is in the following place:

Winter: Up in the northeast,standing on its handle
Spring: High in the north, spilling out
Summer: Up in the northwest, bowl below handle
Fall: Scraping the northern horizon


2. Look for Polaris , the North Star:

Look for the two stars at the end of the bowl of the Big Dipper.
These are the "Pointers" and they point toward Polaris. Up and out of the bowl.
Their names are Dubhe and Merak. Dubhe is orange.
Polaris is about 3/4 of a degree from north.


3. Find Kochab, the End of the Little Dipper.
This is an orange star, about as bright as Polaris (2nd Magnitude)

It's in the direction of the handle of the Big Dipper - out from Polaris.

The exact north pole is on a line between Polaris and Kochab, 3/4 of a degree from Polaris.


4. Seasonal Constellations: Check with a planisphere, seasonal star chart, or

astronomy software for nice maps. Try Starry Night, Stellarium(free) or Software Bisque.

Winter:

Taurus in the southeast, Pleiades up first:
Orion in the east-souteast.
Gemini in the northeast
Cygnus in the northwest ( in early winter)


Spring:

Leo, (star Regulus) high in the south:
Virgo (Spica) up in the southeast
Bootes up in the east. (Arcturus)
Hydra - under Leo and Virgo

Summer:

Ophiuchus in the South
Scorpius low in the south (Antares - Red )
Sagittarius low in the souheast
Cygnus - in the northeast, then high overhead
Lyra - up in the northeast (Vega)

Vega, Deneb, and Altair are the Summer Triangle

Fall:

Piscis Austrinus - Low in the South (Fomalhaut )
Pegasus - Great Square.
Andromeda
Perseus - over in the northeast - left of Pleaides
Casseopeia - high in the north
Taurus - Low in the northeast Pleaides come out in October.
Summer Triangle still visible, but over in the western half of the sky.