In autumn, the Big Dipper lies low on the horizon. So low, in fact, that for many sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere, the handle of the dipper dips below the horizon for part of the night.

One easy-to-recognize pattern in the autumn sky is the W of Cassiopeia (the Queen), tilted on its side high in the northeast. Using the Big Dipper as a guide, imagine a straight line from Alioth, the third star from the end of the handle, and continue through Polaris for about 60 degrees. Stretch out your arm to its full length and measure two open hands from Alioth.

Finding the W of Cassiopeia provides you with a guide to the autumn constellations and some of the more interesting stars and objects in the sky.