Ring dial

Ring dial for latitude 39° North. It has a shaped fixed suspension piece and the suspension ring is missing. Part of the outer face is also missing. On the outer face is a date scale, marked very crudely to month. The equinoxes are marked at approximately 15 March and 15 September. The inner face has an hour scale marked on a separate removable circle arc, divided 5-[1]2, 1-7. The sliding central portion contains a pinhole gnomon.

This is generally a very crude instrument apart from the shaped suspension piece. It was probably made by an amateur, although there is the possibility that it was made at a much later date by an unskilled forger.

For more information regarding this dial please refer to the OUP & NMM catalogue, 'Sundials at Greenwich'.

Object Details

ID: AST0305
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Ring dial
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: Probably 17th century
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 13.5 x 41 mm