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 upside down, high in the sky above Polaris, which is where it can be found during the evenings in spring and summer. For other seasons and times of night, rotate the chart as needed to match what you see in the northern sky.
Visualize a diagonal line across the bowl of the Big Dipper, and extend this line a slighty longer distance outside the bowl, as shown below. This will bring you to the general vicinity of M81 and M82. It is easy to get lost in this part of the sky. If you do, the three star patterns circled in the chart below, which are easily seen in binoculars or a finderscope, can help you get oriented.
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