Start by finding the Summer Triangle, which consists of the three of the brightest stars in the sky--Vega, Deneb, and Altair. The Summer Triangle is high overhead throughout the summer, and it sinks lower in the west as fall progresses.
For this star hop, start from Deneb, the first-magnitude star that forms the tail of Cygnus, the swan (or if you visuazlize the brightest stars of Cygnus as a cross shape, Deneb is at the top of the cross).
From Deneb, look about 5 degrees to the northeast for a pair of dim stars (about magnitude 4-5) that are circled in the chart below. Continue in roughly the same direction for another 5 degrees and you will reach M39, a bright open cluster that should be easily visible in binoculars or a finderscope. From M39, continue another 4 degrees to the east-southeast and you will be in the vicinity of IC 5146. Use a low-power eyepiece and look for a large circular patch of light.
