D8569

Horizontal sun and moon dial Long Caption: Horizontal sun and moon dial for latitude 46° North. It has an octagonal dial-plate with a rectangular extension for the compass on one side. The dial-plate has an outer circular lunar age scale inside of which is a rotatable disc with an hour scale. The date '1577' is engraved in the remainder of the hour circle. The disc is pierced by a circle allowing a pictorial representation of the moon's phase (with a human face on full moon and at quarters). The gnomon is hinged and folds flat when not in use. The compass, on a decorated extension arm, has no markings apart from two crudely drawn lines perhaps indicating magnetic variation (15° East of North and 15° West of North). Credit line: © National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, Londonandau Collection Object: AST0406 Artist: unknown Date: 1577 Medium: brass; glass Size: 6 mm x 90 mm Click here to buy a bespoke print of this image.