Nocturnal

Combined nocturnal and vertical sundial.

Technical details: Decorated hanging support in shape of urn and suspension ring.
Obverse has two rotatable discs and pointer set over main disc. Date scale anticlockwise by months subdivided to quarter months. Meridian transit at August 2.
Lower rotatable disc: Teeth for 13 hours with longer one at 12. No hour numbers. Lunar age scale anticlockwise to days.
Upper rotatable disc: Divisions marked but nothing to indicate what they are for. Circular aperture for pictorial display of phases of Moon.
Reverse: Vertical plate sundial. Date scale divided to months and subdivided to quarter months. Opposite this is hour scale 4 - 12 and 1 - 8 subdivided to 30 min. Rotatable arm with hinged pin gnomon for vertical dial. Constructed for latitude 46 degrees N.

Object Details

ID: AST0125
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Nocturnal
Display location: Display - ROG
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1600
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 49 x 11 mm