Human Sun Dial - Moorestown, NJ
N 40° 00.600 W 074° 54.333
18T E 508061 N 4428871
This sundial is brand new, having been completed in 2009 and is located at the 35-acre Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area along the Rancocas Creek in Moorestown. This site is Burlington County’s eighth park.
Waymark Code: WM7TKE
Location: New Jersey, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2009
Views: 6
This sundial is in the middle of this beautiful, brand new park. Unlike many other sundials which are made of metal and rest on a stand, this one is made of concrete and people. This type of sundial must be laid out according to strict mathematical formulas based on the longitude and latitude of where it will be located on Earth.
The geometry of the sundial is based upon the path that the sun follows in the sky throughout the year is a given location. The coordinates at Boundary Creek Natural Resource Area were then translated into a computer aided design (CAD) program so the longitude and latitude could be accurately surveyed and laid out in the park.
So if you want to figure the time here's what to do.
1. Stand on the proper month on the date scale; as close to the date (beginning, middle or end of the month) as possible, and raise your arm directly overhead.
2. Your arm casts a shadow which falls on the number that represents the correct time.
3. The inner ring of numbers represents Daylight Savings Time (March-November)
4. The outer rings of numbers represents Eastern Standard Time (November-March)
A little technical jargon. The gnomon is the object which creates the shadow by which time is able to be discerned. Sometimes it is a beg or piece of metal, or some other small object, but in the case of this waymark, it is you..the waymarker. Therefore, the gnomon or you, has to move to a new position on the date scale or analemma throughout the year to accurately tell time based upon the shadow you cast.