The attached .gif shows my proposal.  At best it might be good enough to 
measure the angular distance to 15 minutes of a degree (4 parts per 
thousand).  Bill Gottesman

In a message dated 1/4/01 6:31:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
>  Dear List Subscribers,
>  
>  I propose a challenge to the tinkering gang:  
>  
>  Devise and BUILD a dialists' (i.e., shadow-observation-
>  based) method to measure the apparent angular diameter 
>  of the sun, and to compare its values at the two solstices. 
>  
>  No glass, or specular-reflective, image-forming elements 
>  are allowed. "Pinholes," opaque or transluscent screens, 
>  shadow-sharpeners, camera obscuras, and opaque-walled 
>  sighting-tubes are permitted. Clocks and watches may be 
>  employed.
>  
>  No prize is on offer.  The only reward will be the fun of trying,
>  and perhaps, "bragging rights" for elegance, precision, etc..
>  
>  Bill Maddux

Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:SUN TRANSIT.gif (GIFf/JVWR) (00021308)

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