"Sungames" in Sestri Levante (Genova) - Part 2
Latitude 44° 16' 17" N - Longitude 9° 24' 23" E
Equatorial sundial
The main characteristic of the equatorial dial (or equinoctial dial) is the planar surface for shadow projection, which is exactly perpendicular to the gnomon's style that is in the direction of the North Star (as indicated by the decorative elements: Moon, Big Dipper and North Star). This plane is called equatorial, because it is parallel to the equator both of the Earth and of the celestial sphere. In spring and summer the gnomon projects its shadow onto the upper quadrant, in autumn and winter on the lower one; the transition takes place in the equinox days. On the quadrant there are seventeen hour points.
Vertical sundial with patch of light gnomon (Noon marks)
This particular sundial does not give the hours but indicates only the exact moment of local noon, zone noon and clock noon. When the light spot is on the vertical dashed line is local noon: the Sun culminates on the local meridian. When the light spot is on the oblique line marked by round holes is zone noon: the Sun culminates on the central meridian of our zone, which passes near Etna. When the light spot is on the eight shaped curve (analemma) is our clock noon; on this curve there are some painted clocks that indicate the first day of each month. The analemma plots the equation of time versus Sun altitude at noon of Sestri Levante.
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