# Star finder (2102-D)

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

Loading the almanac…

## 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](https://asterodos.com/m/planning): twilight times, choosing stars, and practice with the star finder.
- [The fix](https://asterodos.com/m/fix): crossing lines of position, and why the spread of bearings matters.
- [Planets and the Moon](https://asterodos.com/m/planets).

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From Asterodos, a free interactive course in celestial navigation: https://asterodos.com/star-finder
For learning, not for navigating a vessel.