Making a Sunclock

A sunclock is accurate to within 2 minutes if set down correctly.

Draw a circle on the ground by knocking in a peg and attaching a string with a loop around the
peg ( don’t tie it on as it’ll spiral in) and a stick on the other end to mark the circle. The
diameter should be at least 1m and the bigger the better. 2m is a good size.
Next accurately mark in the TRUE North/South line ( not the magnetic N/S line ) . It is vital
that this is most accurate – if the sunclock is wrong it is because this line is wrong. You can find
magnetic deviation on any topographical map. Draw another line E/W through the centre.

Fig 1

Divide the circle into 24 equal divisions of exactly 15° . This can be done by using the cord
from marking the radius. Use the cord to measure from the N/S line to divide the circle into 60°
segments, then from the E/W line for 30° segments. Bisect the 30° divisions for 15° segments.
( Fig. 1 ) Lightly connect these divisions with faint lines parallel to the N/S line.

Locate your latitude North or South of the equator , and mark this point on the N/S line. In the
example I have used the latitude of Nambour which is 26° S, Townsville is 19° South. Now find
23½° and mark this on the N/S line – this is the earths axial tilt.
Knock in 2 pegs on the E/W line opposite your latitude, and one on the N/S line and tie a line on
to the 2 on the E/W line going around the one on the N/S line. Now pull out the one on the N/S
line and use it to draw an elipse by running the peg or stick around inside the string. ( Fig. 2 )
 Fig 2

Along this elipse mark the hours from 6 am in the West (furthest point of elipse) to 6 pm in the
East with pegs or pebbles where the faint north/south lines cut the elipse. Estimate the ½ and ¼
hours and mark these in also. Make another circle using the 23½° mark as the radius, and divide
each ¼ of this circle into 3 equal divisions ( Fig. 3 ) ( note that in Townsville this circle will
overlap the elipse because 19° is inside the Tropic of Capricorn).
Divide each of these 3 divisions into 3 and mark as indicated in ( Fig. 4 ) .
Set a straight stick VERTICALLY on the N/S line opposite the date, and where the shadow falls
is LOCAL or SOLAR time. Add or subtract minutes as indicated for the date, then adjust for
longitude. If you are East of Standard Time longitude deduct 4 mins for each degree east of the
time meridian, if you are West of the meridian add 4 mins for each degree.
Example 1. Kenilworth, Sunshine Coast. 26° South, 152°45’ E, on Oct 30
The shadow falls across 11:30 am. This is local time. Add 16 minutes = 11:46 am.
The time meridian in Eastern Australia is the 150° meridian and Kenilworth is 2°45’ or
2¾° E of this so subtract 11 minutes. The correct time is 11:35 am.
Example 2. Townsville, N. Queensland. 19° South, 146°45’ E, on Aug 20
The shadow falls across 2:40 pm. This is local time. Subtract 2 minutes = 2:38 pm.
The time meridian in Eastern Australia is the 150° meridian and Townsville is 3°15’ or
3¼° W of this so add 13 minutes. The correct time is 2:51 pm.
Fig 3

Fig 4