| NOCTURNAL DIAL |
Illustrating Shadows the book, focused on sun dials, and they were based on the sun's altitude, the sun's azimuth, and the sun's
hour angle. An ecliptic dial was introduced, then the lunar dial, and then the star dial, commonly called a nocturnal.
This is a PDF file of around 200k, four pages, and has a very simple discussion on the nocturnal or star dial.
hour angle. An ecliptic dial was introduced, then the lunar dial, and then the star dial, commonly called a nocturnal.
This is a PDF file of around 200k, four pages, and has a very simple discussion on the nocturnal or star dial.
The way that stars are seen, and how they vary nightly
as well as annually is discussed, then how and why a
nocturnal dial is developed, then one is developed for
the northern hemisphere.
Then the method of deciding where to place index
marks is discussed, and finally a template is shown.
Longitude correction is needed, also there may be a
need to apply some sort of an equation of day, and
latitude may come into play also.
Like the lunar and the ecliptic dials, this is intended to
whet the appetite.
But - yes - it does work.
as well as annually is discussed, then how and why a
nocturnal dial is developed, then one is developed for
the northern hemisphere.
Then the method of deciding where to place index
marks is discussed, and finally a template is shown.
Longitude correction is needed, also there may be a
need to apply some sort of an equation of day, and
latitude may come into play also.
Like the lunar and the ecliptic dials, this is intended to
whet the appetite.
But - yes - it does work.
This dial does not have a hole in the central binding mechanism which is a nut and bolt. The author allows his eyes to relax and thus merges the Polaris with the not and bolt. Which
explains the use of 3d stereograms. Each to their own peculiarities and obsessions I suppose.
The main dial plate is a computer CD, with the vertical handle glued behind it, and that solves the problems of using a small thin screw in a CD with a lrage diameter hole.
The hour index is on a piece of plexi as is the star pointer. They are all separated by washers. Standard PVC glue was used to affix the template parts (in the file you download). And
of course it is important to sight the index star correctly. In the fall in the northern hemisphere, Casiopeia is easy to use, however a longer cursor may be helpful.
Please be careful when using PVC glue, its vapors are not beneficial to the human.
So now, we have the day covered with sundials, half the nights with a lunar dial, and the balance of the nights with a nocturnal. And that answers the common questions the author
gets at fairs and shows.
Please play with these templates ~ above to the right is a TurboCAD TXW and a DXF file for CADSTD (free CAD software). Also a .JPG is included although you cannot mess with it.
However, you can rescale it.
explains the use of 3d stereograms. Each to their own peculiarities and obsessions I suppose.
The main dial plate is a computer CD, with the vertical handle glued behind it, and that solves the problems of using a small thin screw in a CD with a lrage diameter hole.
The hour index is on a piece of plexi as is the star pointer. They are all separated by washers. Standard PVC glue was used to affix the template parts (in the file you download). And
of course it is important to sight the index star correctly. In the fall in the northern hemisphere, Casiopeia is easy to use, however a longer cursor may be helpful.
Please be careful when using PVC glue, its vapors are not beneficial to the human.
So now, we have the day covered with sundials, half the nights with a lunar dial, and the balance of the nights with a nocturnal. And that answers the common questions the author
gets at fairs and shows.
Please play with these templates ~ above to the right is a TurboCAD TXW and a DXF file for CADSTD (free CAD software). Also a .JPG is included although you cannot mess with it.
However, you can rescale it.
DXF template
original version
original version
| pdf template 50k better version |
| JPG template better version |
CAD template for
CADstd - same as
DXF but improved
CADstd - same as
DXF but improved
| TCW template better version |