Analog clocks have always annoyed me, s

Tim Hutton - 2014-01-23 23:09:02+0000 - Updated: 2014-01-23 23:09:02+0000

Analog clocks have always annoyed me, so I decided to make my own. This is the logical solution I think. There's only one hand, which moves round once a day and shows where the sun is on the map. In the photo it is nearly 10pm in the UK so the sun is over the Alaska timezone. The 6am-6pm line is your horizon, so the top half is your daytime.

This one is for GMT/UTC - you'd need to rotate the map for different timezones, to put your location at the top under the noon marker.

The map is an azimuthal equal-area projection, made with NASA's G.Projector: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/gprojector/

I bought a 24-hour clock and simply inserted the printed map in place, after removing the minute and second hands.

Analog clocks have always annoyed me, so I decided to make my own. This is the logical solution I think. There's only one hand, which moves round once a day and shows where the sun is on the map. In the photo it is nearly 10pm in the UK so the sun is over the Alaska timezone. The 6am-6pm line is your horizon, so the top half is your daytime. This one is for GMT/UTC - you'd need to rotate the map for different timezones, to put your location at the top under the noon marker. The map is an azimuthal equal-area projection, made with NASA's G.Projector: http://www.giss.nasa.gov/tools/gprojector/ I bought a 24-hour clock and simply inserted the printed map in place, after removing the minute and second hands.

Shared with: Public, Tim Hutton, Debby Edwards, Adam Liss, Jim Hutton, Karen Peck

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deborah rabbit white - 2014-01-23 23:15:44+0000

This is great! I reallllllly like it.

Karen Peck - 2014-01-23 23:36:50+0000

Brilliant - get someone to make these for you and sell them - I'd buy one as long as they aren't too expensive

Ashley Yakeley - 2014-01-23 23:46:02+0000

I'm imagining a little DST correction lever that would rotate the map together with the clock mechanism against the numbers.

Hiroki Sayama - 2014-01-24 00:14:03+0000

Patent it!!

Debby Edwards - 2014-01-24 08:01:16+0000

I love love love it. Could you make me one?

Kirill Bannov - 2014-01-24 08:45:55+0000

Really neat. Thanks for sharing!
I think it's possible to put numbers on clock's glass somehow (transparent film or something) to be able to rotate a map independently.

Tim Hutton - 2014-01-24 11:44:44+0000 - Updated: 2014-01-24 13:12:17+0000

Thanks everyone for the kind words! +Debby Edwards, +Karen Peck: I don't want to make them for money but I'd certainly help you make your own. I'll post full instructions.

Dan Thompson - 2014-01-24 13:32:23+0000

Yes, indeed, post instructions!  This would make for a very educational clock for the kids.

Tim Hutton - 2014-01-24 13:46:16+0000

History of 24-hour clocks and lots of different designs can be found here: http://24hourtime.blogspot.ie/

Adam Liss - 2014-01-24 14:53:55+0000 - Updated: 2014-01-24 14:54:31+0000

Might also be interesting to keep the numbers stationary with the "sun" at the top, then rotate the map.

Debby Edwards - 2014-01-24 14:57:48+0000

Thanks +Tim Hutton Id love to have a go. Hope it's as good as urs :-)

Tim Hutton - 2014-01-24 15:46:47+0000

+Adam Liss: Yes, especially for those in the Southern hemisphere: http://24hourtime.blogspot.ie/p/design.html I think I prefer a fixed map because a) it's easier to read, b) it's easier to make from a clock, c) you get a nice horizon line and d) it is closer to a sundial. But give it a go and let me know what you make.

Barak Naveh - 2014-01-24 17:54:54+0000

You should sell those!
I'll order one, preassembled or as an assembly kit.

Barak Naveh - 2014-01-24 17:55:57+0000

My only requirement is that it shouldt have ticking sounds -- these hurt my concentration

Tim Hutton - 2014-01-28 01:56:03+0000

Full instructions and images here: http://ferkeltongs.livejournal.com/36976.html Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help. Send us your photos.

Debby Edwards - 2014-01-28 09:05:54+0000

Thanks +Tim Hutton the bf is going to make it. Ill post a pic when we're done if we're successful. It's a brilliant idea-if u ever fancy a little sideline u know u can always sell these, everyone wants one!!

Jim Hutton - 2014-02-11 12:39:58+0000

Hi Tim
Where did you get the 24-hr clock ?

Tim Hutton - 2014-02-11 13:30:15+0000

+Jim Hutton : Details and links here: http://ferkeltongs.livejournal.com/36976.html

deborah rabbit white - 2014-02-11 19:12:56+0000

+Tim Hutton those are great instructions, Thanks for putting up the link.

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