Assignment

Create a sundial or similar tool to observe a star, planet, or satellite. Bring physical example to class. Post brief documentation of your device working (e.g., a sundial with a shadow, etc) to your blog. See these notes on sundials for ideas and useful software.

What I Did

I experimented with testing sundials made with 3D printing and also paper.

Research and References

📺 Videos

• I love watching educational kids content about topics, they’re easy to understand, entertaining, and short!

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FB0rDsR_rc&list=PLhz12vamHOnagseIgy26MoPI79NXiFBwN&index=1

• This was a helpful one on shadows

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SN1BOpLZAs

• Also a Sundial DIY video!

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeSexM-wVzA

📻 Podcasts

• Once I learned about horology from our first class I went to one of my favorite podcasts, Ologies with Alie Ward to look for related episodes. Turns out there was one on horology itself and another on heliology.

  • Horology: One of my favorite parts of this episode was the host asking about Jay-Z lyrics that mention his Rolex collection from which I learned:

    • There are clocks that will stop working if you don’t wear them every day
    • Real rolexes have a sweeping second hand (vs one that ticks)
    • and Audemars is a type of watch

  • Heliology: The heliology episode referenced the Solar Dynamics Observatory website which shows you pictures of the sun right now, which is so cool, definitely will be using for inspiration

    

    Image of the sun from the Solar Dynamics Observatory

Inspiration

• 📕I went through Sundials section of the Ideas section of the Time website as first inspiration and review.

  • I figured I would need two parts of the sundial the gnomon whose shape would control the shape of the shadow that is cast on the base of the sundial where the markings for time would be read according to where the shadow points.

• 🧶 I especially liked the example from Lily of a crocheted sundial since that’s a medium I’ve been exploring lately!

• The 3D models I found in my research to print were structured as keychains and wrist watches which gave me the idea for building sundial jewelry. Starting with a watch but there could also be pendants, rings, etc.

• One 3D model I’d like to try printing is the digital sundial which is very cool but decided to experiment with that later in the semester

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78I-A7ikXYU