Background:
Ophiuchus (the Serpent Carrier) is a large constellation visible in winter time, with relatively bright stars. It takes the shape of an oval, with somewhat flattened sides! It is not too difficult to learn, and once you've seen the constellation's prominent "oval" figure, it is easy to locate again. It lies close to the milky way path, and contains numerous deep sky objects (with special mention of a few globular clusters in the Messier catalogue).

Where is it?
Ophiuchus, as its name implies, lies between the two snakes: Serpens Cauda on the right and Serpent Caput on the left. The mythological figure of Ophiuchus (a man) carries the two snakes over his shoulders. It is also flanked by well-known constellations such as Scorpius (to its south) and Hercules (to its north). You'll find the constellation in winter months, close to your zenith, and somewhat north of it.

Finding it:
By using a sky map (or even a planisphere), you can easily jump from the stars of Scorpius in a downward direction (to the north) and arrive at the "upper" stars of Ophiuchus. The centre of Ophiuchus basically encompasses a large black area with faint stars. Look for the stars of Ophiuchus closest to Scorpius, lying in an almost straight line, and work your way from there.