Located in the Gallivan Utah Center, this art piece titled, "Asteroid Landed Softly", is described by the Smithsonian Art Inventories Catalog as: "Large boulder sits atop a single column that splits into 2 legs. Sun shining through the split creates a sundial effect on 12 arms in the casework at the base."
The dimensions are listed as: "Approx. 30 x 4 x 2 ft".
This is arguably the most recognized art pieces in the Gallivan Utah Center. A little over half of its height is made of two square metal legs that converge at the top. From this point, upward, the four sided sculpture is clad with mirrors. Atop the mirrored section is a large red sandstone rock. When viewed from the right angle, and with the right light, the mirrors are designed to make the rock appear to be floating.
This sculpture is also a working sundial, operating with the sunlight shining between the two structural metal legs. Surrounding the sculpture at it base is a large compass rose, with zodiac signs imbeded into the concrete.
The following information was found at the North American Sundial Society website (
visit link) :
"A 24 foot tall azimuth dial in a complex sculpture comprising a light projection gnomon within a 36 foot diameter base with numerous additional shadow-casting structures.
The "Asteroid Landed Softly" sundial sculpture was created in 1993 by architect Kazuo Matsubayashi. The sculpture symbolizes the concepts of space and time: space as a large boulder (asteroid) sitting on a square pedestal; and, time as an azimuth sundial that shows the path of the sun through the day and seasons.
The gap between the vertical pedestals projects a shaft of light indicating the azimuth angle of the sun. The change in azimuth of the sun is interpreted as "seasonal or unequal time." This is not the usual usage of seasonal and unequal hours that divide any day into 12 equal periods that vary in duration through the year. The azimuth angle is displayed relative to two circles of posts. A sloping analemma tablet and noon marks for the summer solstice show specifics on the yearly orbit of the sun.
The azimuth vs. time relationships incorporated into this sundial are not hours by any usual sundial or astronomical conventions. The relationships displayed by this dial vary greatly through the day and the seasons. At the summer solstice, the sunrise-to-sunset day duration is 14:56 hours but the south-centered 90º azimuth window of this sundial sculpture functions for only 2:16 hours. At the winter solstice, the day duration is only 9:59 hours but the azimuth window functions for 6:36 hours, much longer than in summer. The change of azimuth with time is strongly dependent on the altitude of the sun which is related to the solar declination and longitude."
This very recognizable abstract sculpture is situated in Gallivan Utah Center, a little east of the Utah One Center at 201 South Main Street. Galivan Utah Center occupies much of the inner block bounded by State Street, 200 South, Main Street, and 300 South.
The John W. Gallivan Utah Center is furnished with an array of unique art projects, an amphitheater, an ice rink and pond, a huge outdoor chess board, and an aviary. Its inviting atmosphere is complemented with performance areas of all sizes, lots of seating, intimate spaces and vantage points that make the Center a comfortable and fun place to enjoy the activities, casual strolling or "people watching."
The Center provides a focal point for the downtown crowd to gather for lunch or a short reprieve from the day's hectic work schedule. Special events such as exhibits, fairs, performances, parades, festivals and holiday celebrations make the John W. Gallivan Utah Center a lively and exciting gathering place year-round.