I just got a hold of an Indy-esque item...

Posted by Fall Guy from pool0048.cvx21-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net on May 29, 2001 at 16:54:39:

It's a portable wooden sundial to carry in your relations utensil-bag.
;)

1.You set your latitude and the current month on two sliding scales.
Then you unfold the clock. It looks like an orb.

2.When you let the clock dangle from its string, the sunlight will
fall through a pinhole aperture and produce a bright point of light on
the time dial (the one with Roman numerals) and thus tell the time.

3. Then you have to look up a correction factor (according to month
and date) on a table.

It seems that I can get within 15 minutes of the actual time. Not too
bad...

Here's a question for our scientifically inclined compadres:
The latitude scale goes from about 27 degrees to about 80 degrees;
North only, I presume. Will this thing work on the southern
hemisphere? Do I have to reverse the latitude scale? What to do?

FG

PS: The actual sundial is a bit smaller than the one on the pic.

PPS: Lara will be looking for a funky clock, I think...

Follow Ups:

• Nope, it won't work in the southern hemisphere..... Fedora 00:14:45 5/30/2001 (1)
  • I need an astronomer's help. Fall Guy 00:32:45 5/30/2001 (0)
• Tick tock! graml 17:49:30 5/29/2001 (1)
  • It's a token... Fall Guy 17:57:18 5/29/2001 (0)
• I don't see why it wouldn't work. Briede 17:42:57 5/29/2001 (6)
  • Hola seņoras! Fall Guy 17:54:46 5/29/2001 (5)
    • Finally, another sailer! Briede 19:31:50 5/29/2001 (2)
      • The boat is full! Fall Guy 20:07:19 5/29/2001 (1)
        • Are you sure? I speak fluent Spanish. Briede 21:35:55 5/29/2001 (0)
    • "Sail, yes! Reef, no!" graml 17:58:11 5/29/2001 (1)
      • I'll run aground? Fall Guy 18:02:26 5/29/2001 (0)

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