Ahh, but sundials *do* have moving parts. That is, the entire Earth as it orbits the sun! :o)
I recently got interested in sundials by thinking about techniques used to tell time when technology was young. Sundials are fascinating, and by drawing many diagrams and being obsessed with the subject for a few days, I discovered many things about them. I'm making a very simple paper one (Would it be called "equitorial"?--the dial plate is perpendicular to the gnomon) to set in my office window right now. By the way, I found out about this sundial mailing list from "Sundials on the Internet". I have some questions and contributions (I've been thinking about making a Flash animation showing some sundial properties). ----- Original Message ----- From: Paul Murphy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sundial <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, October 15, 1999 9:56 AM Subject: The magic which is a dial! > The current discussion on the mathematics of dialling is fascinating and > very valuable, especially to a non-mathematician like me. What it does bring > out is the human complexity of the simple device which is the sundial. > > Here is an ancient instrument which embodies astronomy and mathematics in > its calculation, skill and craftsmanship in its manufacture, visual art in > the beauty of its many and various designs, and literacy and philosophy in > the mottoes normally associated with it. Through the ages man has lavished > his may talents on making it and even in this day of the atomic clock, is > still in awe at it. And yet it is the simplest of manufactured devices, with > no moving parts. > > Is it any wonder it is a subject of such fascination to us all? > > > > > > > > >
