2007-02-18 02:44:18 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
On a sunny day, twist it until the shadow of the gnomon falls upon the hour symbol for the current time of day. you don't have to do it at 12 o'clock exactly. By the way, it will be wrong by an hour in about 5 weeks time. So.... she cold set it to read 1 o'clock now, when its really 12 o'clock. That way it will be right for the sunny months (unless they change us to double-summertime.)
2007-02-18 02:48:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, in the northern hemisphere, the gnomon must align to the celestial north, and vice versa for the southern hemisphere. Just be sure that the sundial that she bought is one made for the northern hemisphere...
Mind you, for what it's worth, you're not exactly going to rely on a sundial for the time are you? So line it up approximately right and away you go. Yes it will fall out of sync with real time over a few weeks, but then again, it's essentially an ornament.
See the link below:
2007-02-18 10:52:33 · answer #2 · answered by k² 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buy a wee cheap compass. Set your dial up, so that midday points due north, the shadow cast should then show midday at 12 noon.
You can also magnetise a needle and suspend it on a thread. The needle should then point north to south. It's 50/50 which is which.
2007-02-18 10:59:17 · answer #3 · answered by JWTeeset 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Line the pointer up with north. Fool proof method: pound a stick into the ground wait until noon tomorrow. The shadow at noon points north or 12:00. Place the sundial so that it's pointer shadow points the same way. If it must be put out today, make sure the shadow points to whatever time it is whenever you put it out.
2007-02-18 10:50:55 · answer #4 · answered by macruadhi 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Take into the garden at 12 lunchtime when the sun is out set it up so that shadow points to 12. well done you have done it. Remember you have to move it each time the clocks go forwards or back..........
2007-02-18 10:47:49 · answer #5 · answered by nathan l 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With most commercially made sundials there is an alignment arrow or marking on the top or bottom that must face due North. Get a compass, determine where you want to place it, and make sure you align it perfectly.
2007-02-18 10:48:59 · answer #6 · answered by od3astard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
north facing @ 12 midday ok
2007-02-20 16:40:01 · answer #7 · answered by yamadori4u 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋