| Sun- and Time Path 2000
in Heidenheim an der Brenz |
| home | the design | description | execution | chronology |
***Sundial**Sun path**Time path**Dimensions***
The gnomon (shadow casting rod) of the sundial is parallel
to the earth axis, i.e. it is positioned in relation to the latitude of
Heidenheim, under an angle of 48.68 degrees as measured from the horizontal
plane. (The eastern length of Heidenheim is 10,13 degrees.)
Its top with the celestial sphere points to the polar
star.
The time can be read between 7 and 18 hours a day through
the shadow which is cast by the gnomon on the time plates.
However, at 12 noon the sun has not yet reached its highest
point in Heidenheim, since the meridian, to which the middle european time
relates, goes through Görlitz an der Neiße. The sun takes 19
minutes to travel from there to Heidenheim.
The timetables are shifted by this amount of time.
On the top of the gnomon is the celestial sphere.
Around our blue planet are the sky equator, the tropics
and the apparent sun path (ecliptic) - with the symbols for the sun and
the planets.
The sun path consists of an indicating tablet in the North
section of the time arena.
When the sun reaches its highest point in Heidenheim
during the days of summer and winter solstice, and the vernal and autumnal
equinox, i.e. at 12 hours and 19 minutes noon, the shadow of the blue globe
in the celestial sphere falls on inscribed and correctly positioned tablets
on the
long axis of the field.
On the days of the equinox the shadow of the globe travels
along the middle line of the orthogonal path (4).
Depending on the height of the sun, the position of the
shadow at noon also indicates the season and the sign of the zodiac on
clay tablets (3), which are located on either side of the indicator field.
Furthermore, the planets Venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter
and Saturn are placed symbolically as stones on the path, corresponding
to their size and
position in relation to the sun.
It is integrated into the sun path. The length of the
time path is framed by railings,
which have 25 bronze tablets (2) mounted on them.
They symbolize, in steps of 200 years, the most important
cultural events of the last 5000 years in Europe.
The visitor enters the time path over a bronze threshold
(1),
and places oneself mentally in the year 3000 B.C. which
is the bronze age.
As one continues, the correspondence between time and
history can be traced on the symbols of the tablets.
Thus history can be lived again in a "fast forward mode".
This makes for a sundial which is worth a visit also
when the sky is overcast.
| total length | approx. 31 m | approx. 100 ft. |
| total width | approx. 13 m | approx. 43 ft. |
| length of the time path | 25 m (2x) | approx. 81 ft.(2x) |
| width of the sun and time paths | 4,0 m | approx. 13 ft. |
| radius of the time arena | 5,3 m | approx. 17 ft. |
| diameter of the celestial sphere | 1,6 m | approx. 5 ft. |
| diameter of the earth globe | 0,6 m | approx. 2 ft. |
| height of the celestial sphere | 4,5 m | approx. 15 ft. |
| height of the polar star | 5,5 m | approx. 18 ft. |