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Sundials of the World! CANADA
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The analemmatic sundial presented on
this page is located in
the Thyme Garden at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton, Ontario. The dial is located at latitude 43°17' N and
longitude 79°52' W and was constructed in 1996.
The sundial was designed by Dr. Paul
Lapp and Anne Milovsoroff who is a the landscape architect for the
Royal Botanical Gardens.
These photographs
and information were provided by Dr. Paul Lapp.
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photograph above shows the analemmatic sundial. It is 5.5 metres
wide with the hours indicated by markers set into the
ellipse. The dial is set to read daylight saving time.
The central part of the sundial, the date scale, is marked off
in the 12 months of the year. A visitor stands at the
appropriate location on the date scale and your shadow will
give the time.
The dial is
located in the midst of beautiful gardens. The theme of the
garden is Time. Hence gardens of thyme, sunflowers,
daisies (day's eye), etc. The
Royal Botanical Gardens gratefully acknowledges the support of
the Richard and Jean Ivey Fund, London, Ontario in the
creation of the Thyme Garden.
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The
date scale is made from limestone. It indicates the date
summer and winter solstices as well as the autumn and vernal
equinoxes.
The hour
markers are small plaques with evergreens planted behind them.
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AN INTERACTIVE
SUNDIAL
Most sundials
have a fixed gnomon (a pointer that casts a shadow). This,
however, is an analemmatic sundial. Its gnomon changes position
depending on the sun's location north or south of the equator.
Where's the
gnomon? Probably reading this sign! Your challenge is to read
the time indicated by your shadow.
It's easy -
during the summer months, just stand at the current date on the
centre line. Your shadow will point to the time.
Our sundial is
designed for this location and is calibrated for daylight
savings time. It is accurate to within six minutes from April to
mid-September.
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