410 Paula Way, Woodland, CA, 95695. The dial is in the front yard, 5 feet from a public sidewalk and low fence. It is easily viewed but out of arm’s reach.
The street is wide with ample parking. It is very accessible to the public and has already garnered attention from the local community.
Description:
It is a polar dial using a rod gnomon. Using a template from Shadows software, the dial is made of handmade ceramic tiles mounted on an aluminum bar frame anchored to a concrete base. Brass borders define winter and summer solstice declination lines, and an aluminum bar defines the E-W equinox declination. Copper analemmas define the sun’s annual path at 7:30/8:30 PST/PDT and hourly until 5/6PM. Metal balls along the analemmas are placed the 1st of each month. Black declination lines mark the ancient Babylonian Zodiacal signs, designated by different colors. Hours are numbered for PST and PDT. Standard time on the hour, accurate to 1 minute, is read on the tile surface when the gnomon shadow is just under the analemma for that hour. The 1st of each month is marked on tiles in early AM and late PM hours, guiding which side of the analemma is used.
General Information:
Inscription:
Owner: Rick Williams
The dial is inscribed “WOODLAND, CA” and “ENJOY THIS HOUR.” Zodiacal signs are designated on the edges of their respective domains. A sign will be made with viewing instructions and a QR code with links to further explanation as well as links to time-lapse videos of the daily shadow course simultaneously with an analog clock on different days.
Designer: Rick Williams
Builder: Rick Williams
Construction Date: July 2022 to Mar 18, 2023
References:
Web Links:
Click on the link to see a time-lapse video of the dial during the Summer Solstice
