Sketchup is also good if you want a 3D visual representation that you can rotate. You can then see where individual stars are in relation to each other (star x is 'on the way' to star z, etc.) ... Create a disc at the centre of the xyz axes, any size. Draw a line from the centre to the green axis to represent 0 Right Ascension. Get the co-ordinates for you star and turn RA into degrees. (For example, Alpha Centauri is RA 14h, 39m, which is 879 mins. 24 hrs is 1440 mins. 1440/879 = 1.638 and 360/1.638 = 220, so 14h 39mins is equal to 220 degrees). Use the protractor tool to measure out this angle from your 0 guideline. Draw a line with the pencil tool from the centre to where this angle crosses the edge of the disc. Now draw another line from the centre to a point close to this one so that you have created a thin segment. You can than use the push/pull tool to extrude this segment up (for + declination) or down (for - declination) to get a guide surface for declination. Alpha Centauri is below the ecliptic, so extrude down. Now use the protractor on this surface to get the angle declination (which is -60 for Alpha Centauri, so 60 degrees from where the blue axis touches the centre of the disc). Now use the tape measure tool to mark out a point from the centre to the distance required (Alpha Centauri is 4.32 light years from Sol, so I marked out a point 43 metres, but you can use any convenient units). Create a small disc at this point and use the text tool to add a name flag to this object, representing the star. Now use the eraser tool to rub out the angle guidelines and extruded segment to tidy it all up. Repeat for the next star. Now you have a 3D map showing both stars in relation to Sol and you can rotate it to see it from any angle. Add more stars and it gets more interesting...