Lawrence, I too cannot say I am an expert by any means, there is too much I do not know, but John and I give a star party for beginners about once a month. We have a star party list of our own (about 100 people), made up mostly of students who have been in our telescope making classes. We would be happy to add anyone who wants to be on our list. I try to send an email at the beginning of each month with information for all the major star parties going on throughout the Wasatch front area, (including SLAS, UVAA, UofU, OAS, and our own as well as a few smaller clubs if they are doing anything.) I also try to send a newsletter with the best objects to see that month and where to find them, as well as times for seeing the ISS, and the transit of the red spot on Jupiter if Jupiter is seeable. We usually try to go to a darker sky sight for our parties, and we have a 18 mw green laser pointer with which we give mini classes on constellations, star hopping, and deep sky objects. The laser is great for letting everyone see the objects clearly, and this eliminates any confusion as to where the object is. I can usually pinpoint an object fairly well letting the whole group get the same object with their scopes at the same time (then everyone runs from scope to scope to compare objects). We have found this an excellent way to learn the night sky. When learning the sky I mostly study on the constellations first since this gives you a larger target to find your smaller objects within. I begin with the six circumpolar, move on to the 12 in the zodiac along the ecliptic and then focus on the stars to the north or south of the ecliptic. Once I know the constellations I focus on stars within the constellations and use these to star hop, then I can pinpoint an object using the stars to triangulate where the object is. Once you have found an object it is easier the second time to find it again. You should do this in seasons since you can usually see three good constellations of the ecliptic up at the same time in the southern sky and two or three of the circumpolar even with the sky glow. This allows you a memorization trick of grouping objects within the season you can view them, i.e. for winter you can see Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, the first three of the zodiac, and the two best circumpolar are Cassiopeia and Camelopardalis, which is very dim so you may not be able to pick this one out unless you where in a dark sky sight, but it doesn't have a lot of objects anyway, just an open cluster and two dim galaxies. But I think this gives a fairly good example of an easy way to learn the sky. All it takes is practice and a lot of time outside studying the sky. I use a planisphere and a sky atlas to find objects. The planisphere gives me the right sky for the date and time, then I can use the atlas to find the constellations named and look up the smaller objects within the constellations. Once you have learned the sky well enough you can eliminate the planisphere. Although most have dates on the back of them for when you can view planets and what constellations you can find them in which is most helpful for beginners. John and I are always happy to help anyone who needs anything if it is in our power to do so. If you want to be on our star party list, please let me know. Good luck with your star gazing! Lisa Zeigler www.johnstelescopes.com www.mirrorkits.com