3 ms·
Here in Singapore on many sunny days, the bearing is largely the same hour after hour. The sun just changes apparent altitude.
by eru 7mo ago
Here in Singapore on many sunny days, the bearing is largely the same hour after hour. The sun just changes apparent altitude.
- fellerts 7mo agoJam a stick in the ground aligned with the earth's axis and take your bearing from the shadow's direction. Then follow GP's instructions. Never mind that we've reinvented the sundial...
- eru 7mo ago> Jam a stick in the ground aligned with the earth's axis [...] You mean place a stick flat on the ground? (Singapore is pretty much on the equator.)
- marginalia_nu 7mo agoThe closer you are to the equator, the taller the stick needs to be. If you're really close, the height requirements diverge, and the stick is at this point technically more of a space elevator[1] than a stick. But don't lose hope, just tell Bezos that Musk wants to fund your space elevator, and vice versa, to goad one of them into funding your $10tn near-equatorial sundial boondoggle. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_elevator
- eru 7mo agoA space elevator is not aligned with the axis of earth's rotation. It sounds like what you are describing is a different device?
- marginalia_nu 7mo agoWhy would a sun dial need to point in the north/south direction? It just needs to point up along the normal axis of the ground (assuming flat ground).
- eru 7mo agoFrom the original comment I replied to: > Jam a stick in the ground aligned with the earth's axis and take your bearing from the shadow's direction.
- marginalia_nu 7mo agoAh, that comment would be incorrect.
- deleted 7mo ago[deleted]