On 23 March your 1600 ZT DR position is LAT 27° 16.3' N, LONG 156° 48.2' W. You are on course 063° T at a speed of 18.0 knots. Considering their magnitude, azimuth, and altitude, which group includes the three stars best suited for a fix at star time?
• Star selection for a 3-star fix (brightness, separation in azimuth, and altitude limits) • Your DR position and time/date (LAT 27° N, LONG 156° W, 23 March, 1600 ZT) to picture which part of the sky is visible • Avoiding stars that are too high, too low, or clustered in one part of the sky
• From about 27° N in late March at local evening, which stars will be very high overhead or very low near the horizon? • Which group gives you stars spread around the sky (ideally roughly 120° apart in bearing) instead of bunched in the same quadrant? • Thinking of the spring sky, where in azimuth (N, E, S, W) would each named star roughly be at local evening near your longitude?
• Verify that each chosen star is bright and well‑known (1st magnitude or very prominent) for easy sight taking • Check that the three stars in the group are not all on nearly the same bearing; aim for a good azimuth spread around the horizon • Mentally estimate whether each star’s altitude would likely be between about 15° and 75° from your latitude and season, avoiding stars near the zenith or on the horizon
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