The horizontal sundial

Shadows Pro - Cadrans solaires & Astrolabes
20 Dec 202108:06
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script explores the beauty and science behind horizontal sundials, an ancient time-measuring tool still cherished today. Highlighted for their aesthetic and scientific significance, these sundials are often found in gardens and parks, featuring artistic designs and philosophical inscriptions. The script delves into the technical aspects of sundial design, including the importance of the gnomon's height and the layout influenced by Earth's movement. It also mentions the Shadows software, a tool that simplifies the creation and calculation process for designing sundials, catering to both small garden decorations and large urban installations.

Takeaways
  • 🕰 The horizontal sundial is an ancient symbol of time measurement that continues to fascinate people today.
  • 🌿 Gardeners and landscapers use horizontal sundials to highlight perspectives or mark the crossing of paths in gardens.
  • 🏰 Horizontal sundials are commonly found in England and English-speaking countries and can be seen in urban parks.
  • 🎨 These sundials can be a canvas for artistic expression, decorated with characters, animals, or philosophical mottos.
  • 🏙 Larger sundials can serve as decorative or structural elements in public spaces like city squares or parks.
  • 🔬 Behind the aesthetics of a sundial lies the scientific discipline of gnomonics, which studies the relative movement of the Earth around the sun.
  • 📐 A horizontal sundial is drawn on a flat surface with a style that casts a shadow, aligned with the North-South axis and pointing towards the celestial pole.
  • 📏 The height of the gnomon is a crucial dimension in sundial design, as it determines the scale of the layout regardless of the plate size.
  • ⏲ Sundials can mark not only time but also other information related to the sun's declination, such as the date, using different arcs and lines.
  • 🌞 The movement of the sun and the resulting shadow cast by the sundial's style divides the dial into a morning and afternoon side, with the noon line as the divider.
  • 🌐 Zodiac arcs on sundials represent divisions of the Earth's orbit into 12 sectors, each 30 degrees of ecliptic longitude.
  • 🌍 The orientation and appearance of sundials differ between the northern and southern hemispheres due to the sun's position and movement.
Q & A

  • What is a horizontal sundial and why is it significant?

    -A horizontal sundial is a time-measuring device that uses the shadow cast by a gnomon to indicate the time of day. It is significant as an old symbol of time measurement that continues to fascinate people and is often used in gardens and urban parks for both functional and aesthetic purposes.

  • How are horizontal sundials typically used in garden and landscape design?

    -Horizontal sundials are used to highlight perspectives or mark the crossing of two alleys in gardens and landscapes. They are often installed on small columns and can be engraved on stone with ornamented metallic styles.

  • In which regions are horizontal sundials commonly found?

    -Horizontal sundials are frequently found in England and other English-speaking countries, and can also be found in urban parks in modern forms made of metal resin or stone.

  • What role does artistic expression play in the design of horizontal sundials?

    -Artistic expression in horizontal sundials can manifest through unique styles, decorations with characters or animals, and philosophical mottos. These sundials can serve as a canvas for the creator's artistic vision.

  • Can a horizontal sundial serve a purpose beyond timekeeping?

    -Yes, a horizontal sundial can also serve as a decorative element in squares or at the crossing of lanes in a park, and in some cases, it can even become a structural element of a city.

  • What is gnomonics and how is it related to sundials?

    -Gnomonics is the scientific study of sundials, which involves the relative movement of the Earth around the Sun to measure time. The layout of a sundial is a consequence of this science.

  • How is the angle of the gnomon in a horizontal sundial determined?

    -The angle of the gnomon in a horizontal sundial is determined by the latitude of the sundial's location. In the northern hemisphere, it points to the north pole, near Polaris, and the angle varies depending on the latitude.

  • What are the key dimensions to consider when designing a horizontal sundial?

    -The most important dimension when designing a horizontal sundial is the height of the gnomon, as it determines the scale of the layout, regardless of the plate size.

  • How does the shadow cast by the gnomon indicate the time of day?

    -The shadow cast by the gnomon rotates from the western side to the noon line as the sun transits the meridian, and then moves to the eastern side as the day progresses, dividing the sundial into a morning and afternoon side.

  • What additional information can be indicated by a sundial with a specific style?

    -A sundial with a style ending with an eyepiece can indicate information related to the sun's declination, such as the date, by casting a light spot that moves along different arcs depending on the time of year.

  • How can the Shadows software assist in designing a horizontal sundial?

    -The Shadows software can assist in designing a horizontal sundial by handling the calculations and drawings, allowing the designer to focus on the manual and artistic aspects of the project.

Outlines
00:00
🕰️ The Art and Science of Horizontal Sundials

This paragraph delves into the enduring fascination with horizontal sundials, which, despite being less common than vertical ones, are a significant symbol of time measurement. It discusses their frequent presence in gardens and parks, especially in English-speaking countries, and their evolution into modern materials and artistic expressions. The scientific principles behind sundials, known as gnomonics, are explained, including the importance of the sundial's design, the gnomon's alignment with the celestial pole, and the angle's dependence on latitude. The paragraph also touches on the technical aspects of sundial creation, such as the significance of the gnomon's height and the marking of time and date through shadows or light spots, concluding with the mention of the Shadows software as a tool for designing sundials.

05:00
🌞 Understanding Sundial Shadows and Zodiac Arcs

The second paragraph focuses on the intricacies of sundial shadows and the additional markings found on sundials, such as zodiac arcs, which represent the Earth's orbit divided into 12 sectors. It explains the difference in sundial orientation and shadow movement between the northern and southern hemispheres, highlighting the inversion of hours and solstice arcs. The paragraph also describes the positioning of the gnomon's foot and its implications during the summer solstice, especially in locations like Saint-Pierre-de-la-Réunion. The discussion then shifts to the practical aspects of sundial creation, mentioning the use of Shadows software for calculations and the manual and artistic skills required to complete a sundial project. The paragraph concludes by encouraging the design of sundials in various styles and sizes, referencing the gallery of sundials created by Shadows users and the software's capabilities for generating sundial graphics.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Horizontal Sundial
A horizontal sundial is a type of sundial that is mounted on a flat surface and uses the sun's shadow to tell time. It is less common than the vertical sundial but is still a significant symbol of time measurement. In the video script, the horizontal sundial is described as a fascinating element in gardens and landscapes, often used to mark the crossing of two alleys or as a decorative piece in urban parks.
💡Gnomonics
Gnomonics is the scientific study of sundials, including the design and function of the gnomon, which is the part of the sundial that casts the shadow. The script explains that the layout of a sundial is a result of the Earth's movement around the sun, and gnomonics is the science behind this. The gnomon's height and alignment are crucial for the sundial's accuracy.
💡Celestial Pole
The celestial pole refers to the point in the sky around which the stars appear to rotate. In the context of the script, the gnomon of a sundial is aligned with the North-South axis and points toward the celestial pole, which is the north pole in the northern hemisphere and is near the star Polaris.
💡Latitude
Latitude is the measure of distance north or south of the equator, expressed in degrees. The script discusses how the angle made by the sundial's gnomon with the plate depends on the latitude of the sundial's location, affecting the sundial's design and the shadow's path.
💡Polar Style
The polar style is a component of the sundial that is aligned with the gnomon and is responsible for casting the shadow on the hour lines. In the script, it is mentioned that the polar style is crucial for the sundial's function, and its position and length are determined by the sundial's design and the gnomon's angle.
💡Hour Lines
Hour lines on a sundial are the markings that indicate the time of day based on the position of the shadow cast by the gnomon. The script explains that the hour lines converge at a point where the polar style is installed, and these lines are used to read the time as the shadow moves across them throughout the day.
💡Solstice Arcs
Solstice arcs are part of the sundial's design that represent the extreme positions of the sun's shadow at the summer and winter solstices. The script mentions that the sundial's drawing is limited by these arcs, which help in marking the longest and shortest shadows of the year.
💡Zodiac Arcs
Zodiac arcs are additional markings on some sundials that correspond to the division of the Earth's orbit into 12 sectors of 30 degrees each, related to the zodiac signs. The script describes these arcs as a feature that can be drawn on sundials to provide further divisions of time beyond the standard hour markings.
💡Shadows Software
The Shadows software is a tool mentioned in the script that is used for calculating and drawing sundials. It is described as a helpful resource for designing sundials of various sizes and styles, allowing users to focus on the artistic aspects of their projects while the software handles the technical calculations.
💡Equatorial Sundial
An equatorial sundial is a type of sundial that is used at the Earth's poles, where the style is vertical. The script explains that at the poles, the horizontal sundial becomes an equatorial sundial, with the style pointing directly upward, casting a shadow that moves along the edge of the sundial plate.
💡Artistic Expression
Artistic expression in the context of the script refers to the creative designs and decorations on sundials, such as characters, animals, and philosophical mottos. The script describes how sundials can be a canvas for the artistic expression of their creators, enhancing their aesthetic appeal beyond their functional purpose.
Highlights

Horizontal sundials are an ancient symbol of time measurement that continue to fascinate people today.

Gardeners and landscapers use horizontal sundials to highlight perspectives and mark alley crossings in gardens.

Horizontal sundials are frequently found in England and English-speaking countries, often installed on small columns.

Modern horizontal sundials can be made of metal resin or stone and are found in urban parks.

Sundials can be artistic expressions, decorated with characters, animals, and philosophical mottos.

Larger sundials can serve as decorative or structural elements in city squares or parks.

The scientific basis of sundials is gnomonics, the study of sundial design and construction.

The layout of a sundial is determined by the Earth's movement around the sun.

The style of a sundial, aligned with the North-South axis, casts a shadow indicating time.

The angle of the sundial's style with the plate varies depending on the latitude.

At the poles, the sundial's style is vertical, making the horizontal sundial an equatorial sundial.

The height of the gnomon is a critical dimension in sundial design, affecting the scale of the layout.

Sundials with only a polar style can mark time but do not have solstice arcs.

The shadow's movement across the sundial indicates morning and afternoon times, divided by the noon line.

Sundials can mark additional information related to the sun's declination and the date.

Some sundials use an eyepiece to cast a light spot instead of a shadow for indicating time and date.

Zodiac arcs on sundials represent divisions of the Earth's orbit into 12 sectors of 30 degrees each.

The sundial's design is affected by the hemisphere it is located in, with drawings being inverted in the southern hemisphere.

Sundials can be created using the Shadows software, which handles calculations and drawings.

The Shadows software is available for free download to assist in sundial design projects.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

Creating Puzzle Books with the New Book Bolt Studio

Where the 1960s "psychedelic" look came from

Introduction to astrolabes: history, design and how they work.

101 Facts That Will Make You Raise an Eyebrow

I made tool that can tell TIME at NIGHT

02 - Learn Unit Conversions, Metric System & Scientific Notation in Chemistry & Physics

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
SundialsGarden DesignGnomonicsTime MeasurementLandscape ArtHistorical SymbolUrban ParksAstronomical ToolsDIY ProjectsShadows Software