Tex Brashear wrote: > ... What if, at the junction of the noon line and six-o-clock lines, > we make a small hole...and then drive a tiny rod into that hole so that > the dial plate pivots around that point on a base to which is attached? > The point itself however, remains in the same position relative to the > gnomon. Could we not simply orient the dial plate so that it reads clock > time, knowing that it would have to be adjusted every few days to > account for the changing equation of time? ...
If I understand your description correctly, Tex, this idea is similar to that used in the horizontal-type Atkinson sundial on the Indiana University, Bloomington, campus. However, the Atkinson dial has the gnomon affixed to the dial plate; the plate and gnomon together pivot around an axis that runs along the polar-aligned style edge. The correct tilt is achieved by way of an indexed-by-date dial and handwheel that is linked to a cam mechanism. For a more detailed description -- and photographs -- see the article "The Atkinson Sundial at Indiana University," by Hugh C. Hazelrigg, in _Sky and Telescope_ magazine, February, 1979, pp. 138 - 140. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mark Gingrich [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Leandro, California
