The world’s most advanced model of the oldest timekeeping device is found on the front lawn of Haywood County’s Folkmoot Friendship Center. Thanks to the ingenuity of Roger Gilbertson, this “new and improved” sundial—built upon a design that dates back to ancient Egypt (circa 1500 BC)—brings unprecedented accuracy to this classic timepiece. The horizontal sundial was recently installed and will be formally dedicated at 12:45 PM on April 24. Most of us learned in elementary school that a sundial tells time by casting a shadow on a marked faceplate, but traditional sundials vary in accuracy. Using traditional sundials, solar time deviates from standard clock time by as much as 16 minutes. Gilbertson’s design solves this age-old issue. His design features an adjustable faceplate, allowing it to stay accurate almost always within one minute when manually adjusted every few days. “All traditional horizontal sundials have stationary parts,” said Gilbertson. “The North American Sundial Society knows of no other horizontal sundial in the world that is adjustable for the equation of time. Therefore, we believe that the Folkmoot sundial is the world’s most accurate horizontal sundial.” The Folkmoot Sundial is 5-feet (1.5m) in diameter. The dial is made of solid aluminum and set on a circular concrete dais several inches above ground level. The Folkmoot Sundial has been carefully positioned to ensure precision, with its gnomon (the piece casting the shadow) permanently aligned to the North Star. Like all sundials, it is 100% solar-powered, requiring no batteries or recharging—just sunlight to cast a shadow. The public is welcome to the Folkmoot Sundial Dedication, April 24th, 12:45 at the Folkmoot Friendship Center, 112 Virginia Avenue, Waynesville, NC. As the community gathers for the dedication, we can only hope for clear skies so this remarkable sundial can perform at its best.
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Registered by the North American Sundial Society
