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Full Scale Printable Horizontal Sundial Templates - Set out Large Sundials for Gardens etc - Metric

Select Hemisphere and enter your Latitude. Select Full Scale and hit Calculate to draw a full scale Sundial Template.



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Hit 'Find my Latitude' to find on map
Latitude
Diameter
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Expand template to allow for Gnomon Thickness
Gnomon
Thickness
The Gnomon on your sundial needs to point to True North in the Northern Hemisphere, or True South in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hit Find my Latitude then click your location on the map to calculate your Latitude and auto adjust sundial template.

This will also add a red Magnetic North or South line to the template, adjusted for your selected location.

Align this Magnetic North or South line with your compass North or South to 'Set' the sundial time.

Watch This Video to learn about compasses, true north and declination angles.
Latitude Diameter Minute Hour



Running measurements around circumference, at 15 minute increments, from 12 o'clock.


Chord Length measurements - Straight line lengths between 12 o'clock and each 15 minute increment.


Hour angles from 12 o'clock. (Vertical)


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For full scale templates, check Full Scale. Hit Diagrams to PDF to create a full scale .PDF to print. You can 'Poster Print' a large template image over multiple smaller (A4 or Letter) sized pages and reassemble to form a single large template (hit 'Diagrams to PDF' for instructions) or take to a Print Shop (up to size A0).

Cut around the template, then cut vertically along the 12 o'clock line and separate to allow for your gnomon thickness, or enter Gnomon Thickness to expand template.

Print a paper popup sundial, cut and fold to test first. You can re-shape the Gnomon, just don't alter the latitude angle, and keep the hypotenuse (sloping edge) straight.
Cut and fix the Gnomon (the triangular piece) to the sundial face, with base along 12 o'clock line, and latitude angle end at centre.
Place level in sunny area, with Gnomon pointing True North in Northern hemisphere, or True South in Southern hemisphere (as marked on gnomon template). Use a clock or watch to adjust rotation to line up shadow with correct time.

You can calculate and mark out dimensions for very large Sundials. For example, a garden sundial, with stones for hour marks, and wood or any large triangular object for the Gnomon. Uncheck Full Scale and use the running list of measurements below to mark out Hour and 15 minute increments around the circumference of the dial.


To mark out a large garden Sundial:
Fold along the Gnomon lines Make a paper popup sundial first, to test alignment and see how the full scale sundial will look and fit.
Hit 'Find Latitude + Longitude' to display world map. Click map at your sundial location then hit 'Draw Sundial' to calculate and draw the template with correct Magnetic and True North or South lines. Using a compass, lay a rope (or hose) along the True North or True South line (Gnomon line), with the start of the line being the centre of the base of the sundial.
Insert a peg/pin at the base of this line, tie a rope or string to the peg, and tie a marker (peg) at the length you want to be the radius of the Sundial. Pull the rope taught and use the marker to mark out the circumference semicircle (outer curved edge) of the sundial, 90° each side of the centre line. Lay a rope or hose around the semicircle, or just mark the ground. Use the running list of measurements from the calculator to mark out and number the Hour points around the sundial face, matching the numbers from the template.
Construct the Gnomon to the calculated dimensions and stand vertically along the centre line.



Enter Latitude Degrees, Minutes and Seconds and hit Convert to Decimal to convert to decimal degrees.

Degrees ° Minutes " Seconds '




Sundials and Latitude Video →



The difference between Horizontal Sundials
and Equatorial Sundials, and how they work.

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Adjust scale of diagrams to measure 100% scale on screen with a ruler.

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