Every Spectra sundial is calculated and handcrafted for the town where it is

to be located, so unlike most "catalog" sundials it actually works

and is capable of telling clock time to within minutes of accuracy.

 

To tell the current time of day with a Spectra sundial, look at the

main shadow field and find the time shadow created by the brass

shadowcaster. The edge of the time shadow that is parallel to the hour lines

indicates the time. Here the shadow indicates that the time is about 2:50 pm.

 

Every Spectra sundial has two time scales, one for Standard Time and one for

Daylight Saving Time. The tip of the time shadow generally indicates what part

of the year it is...in the Fall and Winter the time shadow is short due to the sun being

lower in the sky, so the shadow falls in the upper portion of the sundial shadow field.

The Standard Time scale is used during that part of the year - in the picture above

it is early February. As the months progress the time shadow will continue

to grow longer as the sun's path across the sky gets higher every day.

On the equinox in March the tip of the time shadow above will ride the horizontal

line - then it will continue to elongate as the sun rides higher and the days grow longer.

 

 

 

After the pointed tip of the shadow crosses the central equinox line in March

it will begin to fall into the lower portion of the shadow field. During most of this

time of the year the Daylight Saving Time scale is used to tell the time.

The time shadow above, in early May, indicates that the time is just past 10:00 am.

 

A special date line can also be added to most Spectra shadow fields (at no extra charge)

to commemorate a certain day such as an anniversary or birthday. On that day of the year

the tip of the time shadow will ride that special line during the course of the day.

 

 

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