Hi Phil again, The sundial normally needs to be designed for your latitude. That is the Gnomon angle to the face plate is the same as your latitude. But if it is designed for some other latitude. It will still work OK. So long as you make the shadow forming edge of the Gnomon parallel to the axis of the earth. And not make the face plate horizontal.
Another point is that the numbers go around the face clockwise in the Northern hemisphere. While in the southern hemisphere they are anticlockwise. You may like to check your sundial. Because if it was imported into Australia, it may have been designed for the northern hemisphere. Regards, Roderick Wall. On Nov 16, 2015 9:37 AM, Phil Dorman <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hi Everyone, > > > > I joined this list because I have a specific question which I can’t find a > definitive answer to. > > > > I want to install a sundial at Perth WA Australia which is pretty close to > 32deg South latitude. > > From what I can determine that means the Gnomon should be 32deg above > horizontal. > > Or is that just for the Northern Hemisphere ?? > > > > As I move North in Australia the Latitude number gets Smaller > > Eg Latitude of Brisbane QLD (further North) is 27.46deg > > So presumably the Latitude at the Equator would be Zero ! > > Which would mean a sundial Gnomon at the Equator would be Horizontal ie Flat > on the Ground > > Which of course would not work. > > And at the South Pole it would be Vertical 90deg from Horizontal and also > would not work since there would be no ground for the shadow to fall on. > > > > So. Am I correct to put it at 32deg from Horizontal for Perth WA or not ? > > > > Phil Dorman /:~)> > > Machinery Appreciation & Transport Engineering Society > 946 Wattagan Crk Rd > Watagan NSW 2325 > > 0419 501285 > > > >
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