Will a sundial work at the equator?

A sundial with a vertical pointer (“gnomon”) will indicate noon correctly when its shadow points north or south. [North in northern middle latitudes, south in southern ones, while near the equator it can be either way, depending on season.]

Do Sundials move clockwise?

Why do the hands on clocks go “clockwise?” Seems like a circular definition, but if you looked closely at sundials in the northern hemisphere, you’d notice that the shadow of the sun moves around the sundial in a “clockwise” direction. This was adopted by clock-makers and became the standard we know today.

Does a sundial work the same north and south of the equator?

A horizontal sundial at the North or South Pole will have its dial plate parallel to the Equator. The height of the gnomon will be equal to the latitude or 90°.

What direction should a sundial point?

Sundials need to point in the direction of True North, and the style (either a sharp straight edge or thin rod, often located at the edge or tip of the gnomon) must be aligned with the Earth’s rotational axis.

Which direction does the gnomon the projecting fin on a sundial point?

The gnomon, set to the correct latitude, has to point to the true South in the Southern hemisphere as in the Northern Hemisphere it has to point to the true North. The hour numbers also run in opposite directions, so on a horizontal dial they run anticlockwise (US: counterclockwise) rather than clockwise.

How does a sundial work in the Southern Hemisphere?

In the Southern Hemisphere A sundial at a particular latitude in one hemisphere must be reversed for use at the opposite latitude in the other hemisphere. A vertical direct south sundial in the Northern Hemisphere becomes a vertical direct north sundial in the Southern Hemisphere.

Is a sundial always correct?

A sundial is designed to read time by the sun. This places a broad limit of two minutes on accurate time because the shadow of the gnomon cast by the sun is not sharp. Looking from earth the sun is ½° across making shadows fuzzy at the edge. The actual construction of a sundial can be very accurate.

How do you use a sundial compass?

Use a compass or look for the North Star at night to find true north. Then, rotate the face of your sundial until the gnomon, or the pin of the sundial, is pointing straight north. The 12:00 noon notation is aligned with the gnomon, so it will be pointing north as well.