Find the constellation Cassiopeia, which has a distinctive "W" shape (although its orientation changes at different times of year as it circles the north celestial pole). On fall evenings, look for Cassiopeia in the northeast, where its tilt makes it look like a "3", and in the winter look high in the north above Polaris, where it is oriented like an "M".
Once you have located Cassiopeia, begin at Ruchbah, the star that forms the first angle of the W shape. Move just 2 degrees south (in the direction shown in the chart below, just below the W shape) and you should arrive at the Owl Cluster. To find the smaller and dimmer NGC 436, look 2/3 degree northwest of the Owl Cluster.
