Vertical Dials
and Reclining Dials
and Reclining Dials
On a vertical dial the plane of the shadow-receiving surface is vertical.
When a vertical dial is oriented to a cardinal point it is referred to as direct (east, west etc).
A vertical declining dial may face any direction between the cardinal points.
This page also includes dials which recline from the vertical.
A vertical direct south
 The dial on the right of the cube is another direct south To the left is a vertical direct west. The curves along the edges indicate the dates of the solstices, and the line in the center the equinoxes. The gnomons have been removed. |
 A rare vertical direct north. This dial will only receive sunlight in the early morning and late afternoon. Note the numerals - morning is to the right. The gnomon appears to be inverted, but it must be so as to be aligned with the polar axis. |
 A vertical declining dial facing a direction between south and west. This dial includes the longitude correction, but no correction for the Equation of Time. The upper numerals indicate Pacific Standard time and lower ones Pacific Daylight Time - but Local Solar Time, not Standard Time.  Another vertical declining dial on the side of a barn. Note the compass directions at dial center. Because the 12:00 line is vertical, this dial indicates Solar Time. Compare with the dial above where the 12:00 line is not quite vertical.  A reclining dial. The dial is oriented due south, but the face reclines from the vertical.  Another dial reclining so it is nearly horizontal. It was specifically designed so both the gnomon and face would be equilateral triangles.  A declining reclining dial. The face reclines from the vertical and faces somewhat east of south. This unique dial is realized on a thin plastic membrane affixed to a satellite receiver dish. |