How to Make a Sun Watch
Up until 1883, the time of day was measured only by the sun's position in the sky. Since then, sun watches, also called sundials, have become somewhat of a curiosity. You can make your own sun watch with supplies you probably already have at home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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1
Download a sun watch diagram specific to your area and print a copy of it (see Resources below). This will ensure that your sun watch is accurate.
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2
Find or make a flat disc out of either wood or cardboard. This depends on how durable you want your sun watch to be.
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3
Find something to use as the gnomon, or hand, for your sundial. This can be a pencil, a nail or a narrow straight piece of wood. This will cast the shadow that tells time.
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4
Attach the gnomon to the center of the disk at an angle that is equal to the angle of latitude at which you live. Your latitude can easily be found online or using a map (see Resources below). To ensure accuracy in your angle, use a protractor.
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5
Go outside on a sunny day and locate magnetic north with a compass, and then line up your sun watch diagram accordingly.
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6
Place your disk on the ground and line it up with your sun watch diagram. The gnomon should be pointing directly towards magnetic north.
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Secure your disk in place using nails, glue or cement and then copy the hour lines from the diagram onto the surface of the disk using a pen or fine marker. The shadow cast by your gnomon should now signify the time of day.
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