I suggest you look at the British Sundial Society piece created by Tony Moss that shows how different types of sundials work at different places on the earth's surface.
http://sundialsoc.org.uk/discussions/how-do-sundials-work/ At the poles and the equator, sundials have to take different shapes than the horizontal plate with inclined gnomon you are used to seeing. In Perth your gnomon should, indeed, have a 32 degree slope and be parallel to the earth's axis. But the hour line numbers are reversed from what they are in the northern hemisphere. Jack Aubert From: sundial [mailto:sundial-boun...@uni-koeln.de] On Behalf Of Phil Dorman Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 5:37 PM To: sundial@uni-koeln.de Subject: Southern Hemisphere Hi Everyone, I joined this list because I have a specific question which I can't find a definitive answer to. I want to install a sundial at Perth WA Australia which is pretty close to 32deg South latitude. >From what I can determine that means the Gnomon should be 32deg above horizontal. Or is that just for the Northern Hemisphere ?? As I move North in Australia the Latitude number gets Smaller Eg Latitude of Brisbane QLD (further North) is 27.46deg So presumably the Latitude at the Equator would be Zero ! Which would mean a sundial Gnomon at the Equator would be Horizontal ie Flat on the Ground Which of course would not work. And at the South Pole it would be Vertical 90deg from Horizontal and also would not work since there would be no ground for the shadow to fall on. So. Am I correct to put it at 32deg from Horizontal for Perth WA or not ? Phil Dorman /:~)> <http://www.maates.com/> Machinery Appreciation & Transport Engineering Society 946 Wattagan Crk Rd Watagan NSW 2325 0419 501285
--------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial