Dear Frans, I happily endorse all your suggested improvements. I'd add the possibility of using 3M's retro-reflective material, as on traffic signs, on the hour-markers or, if the layout is reversed on the centre-post.
I just hope Mr Phillips appreciates all the hard thinking we've done on his behalf. John Lynes --- On Mon, 7/7/08, Frans W. Maes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear John, > > Do you think Mr. Phillips really is willing to go along > with such an > idea? If so, I have been considering the options a bit > further. > > The explanation in Karl Schwarzinger's webpage has > January outermost and > December innermost. For a human shadowcaster, it would be > easier to have > June innermost, as his/her shadow will be short. Next May + > July, which > see about the same solar declination, then April + August, > etc. The > spacing of the month rings can be adapted to the average > person's shadow > length in that month. You might stop at March + September, > as there is > not much going on in the remaining months, according to the > Year > Calender in the Estate's website > (http://www.kentwell.co.uk/). > > The type of pavement/planting may limit the accuracy of > reading. If one > does not care about high precision, one could average the > azimuth values > of two months (like May and July) and use this single > value. > > The placement of the month names is free. They could be > aligned with the > main driveway, thereby fulfilling another of Mr. > Phillips' requirements. > > We still have the wish/requirement for scales having the > hour points at > the south side. This could be met by reversing the lay-out, > as follows: > Rotate the rings by 180 degrees. The person walks the ring > for the > present month until his/her shadow points at the center > spot/post. Then > he/she reads the time from his/her position. This makes the > dial even > more 'interactive' than the usual analemmatic dial! > > What do you think? > > Best regards, > Frans Maes > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > YES!!! Why didn't any of us think of this? > > John > > > > > > --- On Sat, 28/6/08, Frans W. Maes > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > >> From: Frans W. Maes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Subject: Re: Advice wanted, on > 'Analemmatic' sundial orientation > >> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> Cc: [email protected] > >> Date: Saturday, 28 June, 2008, 9:51 PM > >> Dear John, > >> > >> What you describe resembles an azimuth sundial. > See for > >> instance the > >> Plochingen sundial in Karl Schwarzinger's > collection: > >> http://members.aon.at/sundials/bild44_e.htm > >> In this case, there would be no clear-cut > alignment with > >> anything, > >> including the (in)famous path... > >> > >> Best regards, > >> Frans > >> www.fransmaes.nl/sundials --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
