Hi David: Several people submitted to me for the FAQ project the question: "What is the difference between equinoctial and equatorial?" So it is definitely a source of confusion. Other confusing terms are: analemmatic & analemic; magnetic deviation, declination & variation; style & gnomon; precision & accuracy; and inclining, declining, & reclining.
regards, John >Chris Lusby Taylor said in his comments about the Glossary: > >"Dial types/equatorial: Why do you say this is a misnomer? I think it is >a perfectly acceptable alternative term, indeed I prefer it to >"equinoctial". Cousins uses it." >> >>I very much agree with Chris, not only does Cousins use "Equatorial" but >so does Mrs Gatty, Alice Morse Earl, A P Herbert, Mayall & Mayall, Winthrop >Dolan, Albert Waugh, Roy Marshall, H Robert Mills and Rene R J Rohr in the >translation of "Sundials , History Theory and Practice". >In his "Shire" book of Sundials my colleague and friend, the BSS Chairman, >describes why he thinks that the correct term is Equinoctial (because it is >in the Equinoctial plane) but he also admits that the term "Equatorial" has >come to be accepted by current usage. Surely it is current usage that has >determined what the English Language is today? We call a dial in the >vertical plain a Vertical dial, a dial in the horizontal plane a Horizontal >dial, what is wrong with calling a dial in the equatorial plane an >Equatorial dial as it has for at least the whole of this century. >No doubt others will have different opinions but at the very least the >subject should be aired. > >Christmas Greetings to All >David Young >51.38N 0.01 E > > >
