The user places a pointer (or a finger) on the globe and moves the pointer until the shadow of the tip of the pointer falls upon the pointer at the center of the globe. Lo and behold, the user is then pointing to that spot on the earth where the sun is directly overhead at that moment. The nearby time lines (analemmas) are used to read the time of day (clock time). Time lines are numbered for standard time and daylight savings time if used. The Wenger Sundial provides much more information than the current time of day. Since the local Horizon, the Equator, the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn are also scribed on the globe the location of the sun with respect to the Equator is easily read. This indicates the degree of summer or winter. The Tropic lines indicate the path of the sun on the summer and winter solstices (approximately June 21 and Dec. 21). The Equator indicates the path of the sun on the equinox (approximately March 21 and Sept. 21). By following the current position of the sun parallel to these lines until the local Horizon is met, the user may then read the time of sunrise and sunset and the direction of the sun at those times. This is truly an enlightening object. |