So, a sundial is pretty much useless, unless it is in the sun. I decided, since this was a scientific sundial, indeed a precision instrument, that it needed a precision base.
With left over materials from our last solar job, I fashioned a base using 8 inch sonotube, 3 inch PVC conduit and an 80 pound bag of ready mix.
Scientific Sundial, mounted
I knew were a large rock, by large I mean car sized, was in my yard, I found it the first year while digging trenches for drain pipes for the gutters. I dug down with a post hole digger and placed about 18 inches of sonotube on the rock. I also drilled into the rock a little bit with a masonry bit and put a 1/2 inch rebar into the rock, pinning the sonotube footing in place.
Then I filled the sonotube and the 3 inch PVC with ready mix concrete.
I waited two days.
Scientific Sundial, about 5 pm
Using the Solar and Moon calculator App for my android phone, I determined that solar noon was 12:57:58 pm today. I don’t thing that two seconds will make that much difference, so at exactly 12:58 pm, I aligned the 12:00 noon analemma with the shadow made by the Gnomon. This sundial is now aligned to true north/south.
The motto means “Life resembles a shadow“
It has been a while. I don’t check everyday, but I do check pretty often to see if you have gotten back to blogging.
We miss you, man.
I hope that things are going well.
I just bought a wood-burning stove and need advice on installing it…?
Interesting, I didn’t think people still used sundials. I think in many ways taking steps back and going to the basics is actually steps forward. I just found this blog, and I’m glad I did. Good stuff…thanks!