Why is a sundial more accurate than a clock?
Your sundial is a scientific instrument calibrated for 40 N latitude. It uses the natural motions of the earth around the sun to find local solar time at each instant. Clocks keep mean time, which is the average solar time for a broad 15 section of the earth known as a Time Zone. While convenient to running modern businesses, clocks give us only a coarse approximation of local solar time.

What happens on a cloudy or rainy day?
These dials remind us of a simpler time. If you asked me what to do if the sun didn't shine or it was a cloudy day, I would say, "Take the day off! We'll meet on the next sunny day." Life was like that. People's activities were limited to the daylight hours.

Where do sundials originate?
Each culture had a method to determine general time way before the invention of clocks. Sundials can be traced back throughout history to ancient Egypt.

Do they really work?
All the Shepherds Watch® sundials are functioning timepieces.

What happens at night when the sun isn't out?
The majority of our dials work during the daytime; however, the nocturnal line of dials work with the stars instead of working with the sun. They are "star dials."


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