March 2010 page 48
Tony Belk

Photographer’s Dial—Part 2

An extension of a previous article on a photographer's sundial. This part adds a scale to indicate the sun's altitude and provides a new design for use at 54° N, which, together with the original 51.5° N dial, covers all of England.
DIY Sundial Projects, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2010 page 45
Tony Belk

The BSS 2010 Sundial Design Competition

This report covers the fourth BSS Sundial Design Competition, which received 14 entries across restoration, professional, and amateur classes, though no junior entries. Graham Aldred won the Major Prize for his restoration of the Lyme Park dial. Other prizes were awarded for a south-facing vertical dial and highly commended entries for a sun/moon dial, a prototype noon mark dial, and a vertical dial using a 'super ellipse.'
Dials: Unusual, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

June 2009 page 10
Tony Belk

Errors in dials at the wrong latitude

An analysis of the time-telling errors that occur when a horizontal or vertical non-declining sundial is used at a latitude different from its design latitude. The article provides tables and graphs illustrating the magnitude of these errors at different times of day and for different solar declinations.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

December 2009 page 26
Tony Belk

A photographer’s sundial

Describes the design and use of a pocket-sized device for photographers to predict the sun's direction at any time of day or year. Based on a horizontal stereographic projection, the instrument uses a rotating dowel aligned with date and time scales to help plan for specific lighting conditions.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2008 page 169
Tony Belk

Diallist’s Alphabet

A light-hearted alphabetical list of terms and concepts related to sundials and dialling. It covers various aspects from Apparent time to Zodiac, including types of dials, mathematical concepts, and references to the British Sundial Society and its members.
How Sundials Work, The BSS and Members

December 2008 page 170
Tony Belk

Polar Dials at any Declination

This article presents a method for designing polar sundials for any latitude and declination using four simple formulae. It explains that polar dials have a style parallel with the dial plane and parallel hour lines, and describes how to determine the angle of the equinox line and the sub-style hour angle.
Dials: Polar, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2007 page 137
Tony Belk

Declination Lines Detailed

This article offers detailed methods for drawing declination lines on planar sundials using polar and Cartesian coordinates, or a graphical protractor, all based on the dial's style height and nodus distance. It also provides formulas for calculating hour line angles for various dial types and a simple method to check existing dials for accuracy.
Construction Projects, Dialling Tools, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2006 page 142
Tony Belk

Simple Delineation of Vertical Declining Dials

This article introduces a user-friendly method for delineating vertical declining sundials using bespoke slide rule-like calculators. These tools determine equivalent latitude and longitude, simplifying the process by eliminating complex trigonometry. The article explains how to use these calculators with standard dialling scales to accurately plot hour and sub-style lines.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Vertical, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2005 page 47
Tony Belk

Direction Cosines for the Accurate Delineation of Planar Sundials

Explains how direction cosines can be used to precisely design planar sundials. The method eliminates inaccuracies of graphical construction by calculating hour lines, declination lines, and style parameters mathematically, with examples for horizontal, vertical, and declining dials, and comparison with conventional calculation methods.
Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2003 page 76
Tony Belk

BSS Annual Conference, Yarnfield, April 25-27, 2003

A summary of the British Sundial Society's Annual Conference at Yarnfield. The report covers various talks and workshops, including one on electrochemical hazards to sundials, a presentation on a pilgrim route, and one on unusual sundial designs.
The BSS and Members

December 2002 page 135
Tony Belk

The Isaac Morris Moondial

A detailed explanation of a unique 1803 sundial with a moon time calculator by Isaac Morris, exploring its design, mathematics, and possible use for tide prediction.
Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

September 2001 page 123
Tony Belk

The Stereographic Projection as a Graphical Method for Designing Sundials - Part 2

This second part details using stereographic projection for graphical design of declining and reclining vertical, and double horizontal sundials. It explains how to determine sub-style angles and style heights, and how the projection can cover full 24-hour periods. The article also covers William Oughtred"s "Horizontal Instrument" and Blagrave"s "Mathematical Jewel" as related applications.
Dials: Double Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout