Picking Stars for a Fix
In the Stars tab: wide azimuth spread, 15°–65° altitude, bodies you can actually identify.
← Back to Daily Fixes
Rule 1: Spread them around the compass
Fix quality in FairWinds is driven by LOP crossing angle (Excellent / Good / Fair / Poor).
- Two stars: aim for ~90° azimuth separation (matches the Daily Schedule help)
- Three stars: aim for ~120° apart — triangle fix
- Avoid pairs under ~30° apart — nearly parallel LOPs
After you Compute Fix, check the reported crossing angle / quality before Save Fix.
Rule 2: Keep altitude in the app sweet spot
Daily Schedule guidance for twilight star fixes: 15°–65°.
| Altitude | Notes |
|---|---|
| Below ~15° | Refraction gets ugly; horizon haze more likely |
| 15°–65° | Target band in FairWinds |
| Very high | Small altitude errors blow up into large position errors |
If you have a choice during twilight, prefer mid-altitudes with good spread over one spectacularly bright star stuck near the horizon.
Rule 3: Pick bodies you can identify
Stick to bright navigational stars (and planets when offered) until you know the sky.
In FairWinds:
- Open the Stars tab during the twilight window on the Daily Schedule
- Use Best Bodies Now (settings) or pan the sky to shortlist targets
- Note azimuth/altitude before committing to the sextant
- Shoot → LOP → Save LOP → select 2–3 → Compute Fix
When the sky is limited
- Two good LOPs at ~90° still produce a fix — FairWinds accepts 2 or 3 selected LOPs
- One LOP still constrains your DR even if you cannot Compute Fix yet
- After dusk, the optional Night Fix schedule step allows moon/planets/stars; the in-game horizon stays usable at night
See also: AM Twilight Star Fix · PM Twilight Star Fix