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 brilliant blue-white Vega (magnitude 0), the brightest of the three stars of the Summer Triangle.
From Vega, look about 15 degrees west for the distinctive 4-sided figure in the center of Hercules known as the keystone. On the west side of the keystone (farthest from Vega), M13 is 1/3 of the way from η (Eta) to ζ (Zeta) Hercules. Point your scope there, and M13 should be clearly visible through a low-power eyepiece.
