Dear All, Next to a sundial it is quite common to see a representation of the Equation of Time.
One reason for this is so that people can note the time shown on the dial and then calculate the time that should be shown on a clock. There is an implicit assumption that clock time is what the user really wants to know and that sundial time is somehow inferior. In Italy they think the other way round... Take a look at: http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/users/fhk1/EofT.jpg Here you will see an ordinary public clock showing 12:51 and immediately below the clock is a second clock with a single hand that indicates the EQUAZIONE DEL TEMPO. In the photograph it shows -6 minutes. Here people can note the time on the clock and calculate the time that should be shown on a sundial! The implicit assumption is that sundial time is what the user really wants to know and that clock time is somehow inferior. Bravo to the Italians! The photograph was taken on 1 August when the Equation of Time was indeed about -6 minutes. The main clock was showing Central European Summer Time. I do not know of a public (outdoor) clock in the U.K. that shows the Equation of Time and wonder how much demand there would be for such a facililty? For completeness: the photograph was taken in Piazza Dante in Naples. Frank King Cambridge, U.K. --------------------------------------------------- https://lists.uni-koeln.de/mailman/listinfo/sundial
