Types of Sundials
Just as the sun journeys across the sky in countless patterns, sundials themselves come in many fascinating forms. Each type is designed to harness sunlight in a unique way, blending ingenuity with the natural world. Here are a few of the most remarkable types:
​
Horizontal Sundials:
Perhaps the most familiar type, these sundials feature a flat, horizontal plate and a gnomon (the shadow-casting piece) angled to match the latitude. As the sun moves, the shadow traces the hours across the dial face.
Vertical Sundials:
Mounted on walls, these dials stand tall and proud. The gnomon projects outward, and the shadow falls across a vertical surface—often found gracing the facades of old buildings.
Equatorial Sundials:
Ingeniously simple, the dial plate is aligned parallel to the Earth’s equator. The gnomon stands perpendicular to the plate, so the shadow moves evenly as the sun arcs from east to west.
Polar Sundials:
With a dial plate parallel to the Earth’s axis and a gnomon also aligned to the axis, these sundials are a striking example of how science and geometry intertwine.
Analemmatic Sundials aka Human Sundial:
These playful dials require the user to become the gnomon! By standing at the right spot—marked for each date—a person’s own shadow tells the time.
Equinoctial Ring Sundials:
Portable and elegant, these sundials use a ring with a movable gnomon. Light shining through a small hole marks the time along the inside of the ring.
Armillary Sundials:
Inspired by ancient astronomy, these consist of a series of rings representing the celestial equator and other key circles. The shadow of the central rod marks the hour.
Each type of sundial tells a story—of culture, climate, and creativity. Whether simple and handmade or grand and architectural, sundials continue to inspire wonder, reminding us of humanity’s age-old connection to the sky.