Stand in a position where both stars or places can be seen. Imagine you are standing at a point of a triangle where two sides of that triangle extend out, one to each star. Therefore, the angle describing the point where you stand is the angular distance.
Measure the angular distance. Astronomy students may have access to an Astronomer's Crossbow, as shown by Robert Knop at Vanderbilt University, to make measurements. If this is the case, then a distance of 1 inch on the crossbow represents 2 degrees angular distance. If you don't have a crossbow, you can use the fist-finger rule for determining distances. Extend your arm out its full length toward the area between the objects to be measured. Use the tip of your pinkie, your middle three fingers, or the width of your fist to determine the distance between the two objects: 1, 4 and 10 degrees respectively. If you extend your fingers out as far as you can, the distance between the outside of your pinkie to the outside of your thumb is 18 degrees.
Record measurements along with date and your location. If measurements were made with an Astronomer's Crossbow, record both the measurements in inches and then convert to degrees, assuming that 1 inch is equal to 2 degrees.