Set your latitude and the LHA of Aries, and read the altitude and bearing of every navigational star.

How to use the star finder

This is a working copy of the 2102-D Star Finder and Identifier that navigators carry (the British NP 323 is the same idea). The base shows the navigational stars around the celestial pole. The template for your latitude lays your sky over it: the horizon, curves of equal altitude, and lines of equal bearing.

Choose the template nearest your latitude.
Turn the template's arrow to the LHA of Aries for the time of your sights: GHA Aries from the almanac, minus west longitude or plus east.
Every star inside the horizon curve is up. Tap one to read its altitude and bearing, near enough to preset the sextant and know where to look.

For a good fix, pick three stars about 120° apart in bearing, between about 15° and 70° high. Planets are not printed on the real base because they move; here they are plotted for the date you choose.

It is a learning aid, not a navigation tool: at sea, use the official Nautical Almanac and tables, and check every position by other means.

Learn to plan a round of sights

Planning a twilight fix: twilight times, choosing stars, and practice with the star finder.
The fix: crossing lines of position, and why the spread of bearings matters.
Planets and the Moon.