The Longitude Dial

ORIGINS: The commissioning of this work by the Texas Christian University was made possible through the generosity of Joseph I. O’Neill III, to honor his wife Marion Jan Donnelly O’Neill, who graduated from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business on June 4, 1969. The TCU Dial is situated at 32º, 42′, 39.14” North, 97º, 21′, 38.79” West, close by the F. Howard and Mary D. Walsh Center for Performing Arts on South University Drive. TCU is marked in the center of the map with a gold pin. The inscription around the perimeter of the dial is from “Time is”, a poem composed in 1904 by Henry van Dyke (1852 – 1933) for a sundial in Katrina Trask’s Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs, New York: “Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is not.”

COMMEMORATING SPECIAL OCCASIONS: On December 11th and August 15th, the gnomon bead’s shadow follows the lines commemorating the birthdays of TCU’s founders Addison Clark and Randolph Clark, and, on September 1st, their founding of AddRan College at Thorp Spring in 1873. On March 15th each year, it tracks the path of the Sun on the day in 1902 that the name AddRan College was changed to Texas Christian University and, on May 10th, TCU’s move in 1910 to its present location in Fort Worth.  

DESIGN: The gold-plated bead on the gnomon (the shadow-casting rod) marks the center point of the map projection and the four polished stainless steel arms that support the gnomon: in the ancient geocentric concept of the heavens, this bead would represent the Earth at the center of the universe while the arms portray great circles of a celestial sphere. The concept of this design is based on an armillary sphere, an instrument employed during the Renaissance for teaching astronomy.

The dial’s pedestal is a heptagon, each side representing one of the seven planets from which the names of the seven days of the week evolved. In their concept of an Earth-centered universe, the ancient Egyptians believed that the Sun and Moon were like the other five “wandering stars” visible with the naked eye and listed them according to the speed of their apparent motion, beginning with the slowest: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon. Each hour was assigned to a planet and the day was named for the one that presided over its first hour. Therefore, starting with Saturn for the first hour (Saturn’s day) and repeating this same order throughout a 24-hour period (12 of daylight and 12 of darkness), the first hour of the next day would belong to the Sun, hence Sunday. The names by which ancient civilizations called these wandering stars evolved through contributing cultures and traditions into the names of the seven days of the week we use today.

Each of the seven arches is named for one of these wandering stars. In the upper right corner of each arch is the planetary symbol. In the upper left corner is the name of that day in seven different languages, some with Greco-Roman origins and others, such as English, with Germanic roots. After their flight from Egypt, the Jews made Saturn’s day the last day of their week, their Sabbath. Sunday remained the first day of the week in the early Christian church, but is now considered in the majority of countries as the last day, part of the weekend.

The compass rose is engraved with the names, directions, and distances of 196 capital cities. Because the continental boundary between Asia and Europe does not correspond with every national border and is not clearly defined between Asia and Oceania, some countries belong in two continents. In this instance, however, each has been assigned a color to identify it with one of six continents: Africa (maroon, 54 countries), Europe (green, 48), Asia (red, 45), North America (dark blue, 23), Oceania (rust red, 14), and South America (light blue, 12). Four additional cities in Texas are highlighted in purple: three of these — Thorp Spring (near Granbury), Waco, and Fort Worth — are associated with the history of TCU.

MATERIALS: The TCU Dial incorporates the three main types of rock: sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous. The pedestal, the benches, and capstones are made from Indiana limestone, a sedimentary rock formed from particles of sand and other deposits that accumulated in layers over a long period into a hardened sediment. The pointers of the compass rose are made of slate, a metamorphic rock transformed by intense heat and pressure from its previous sedimentary state (shale). This “Hampton purple” slate was quarried in Granville, New York. Igneous rocks are formed when magma (molten rock) cools and hardens. Two types have been used in this design: a grey granite from Barre, Vermont, for the compass rose pavers, and a micro-fine gabbro from India for the dial plate, the meridian plate, and other engraved parts.

Texas Christian University
2800 South University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas,76109
Telephone: (001) 817-257-7000
Website: https://www.tcu.edu

ORIGINS: The commissioning of the Deerfield Dial took place in two phases.In 2006, the inspiration to site a Longitude Dial near the entrance to the new Koch Science Center originated with Brian Rosborough ’58, Academy Trustee. He proposed the inscription: Dedicated to teaching and learning at Deerfield Academy for as along as the Sun may shine. Together with fellow members of the Academy’s Board, Peter Gilson ’58, Jeff Lewis ’80, and Treasurer Michael Sheridan ’58, the design was approved, commissioned, and funded by David Koch ’58. The first location and a round brick pedestal, suggested by the architect of the Koch Center (under construction at that time) turned out to be unsuitable.  In March 2011, the Head of School Margarita Curtis approved William Andrewes’s design for a new pedestal with a 30-foot compass rose at the entrance of the Boyden Library. The current installation began in March 2012 and was completed the following September.  Three curved mahogany benches, designed and specially made to correspond to 14.5-foot radius of the compass rose were added at the end of the year. James and Sally Miller, parents of David ’97, Jonathan ’01, Elizabeth ’02, Alexander ’09 and Katherine ’12, helped to fund these developments. The Deerfield Dial continues to convene and inspire students and faculty for learning and fellowship in all seasons.”

DESIGN: The Deerfield Dial was designed for latitude 42º:32′:47.2″ North of the Equator and longitude 72º:36′:24.7″ West of the prime meridian at Greenwich, England. Deerfield Academy is located in the center of the map, identified by a small circle. The dotted line down the center of the map marks the Deerfield meridian and intersects the time scale at 11h:50m:24s. When the gnomon’s shadow crosses this line, it indicates the moment of local noon when the Sun is due South. The hour numerals on the Deerfield Dial are set for Daylight Saving Time, which is in effect for almost eight months of the year.

Before the advent of railroads, each town had its own local time, found by a sundial. The time at Deerfield was therefore different from any place to the East or West: local noon (when the Sun is due South) occurs just over six minutes earlier at Boston, about 80 miles East, and about four and a half minutes later in Albany, about 60 miles West.

The latitude of Sun’s path across the map changes with its declination during the course of the year. At the equinoxes, around March 21 and September 22, the bead’s shadow traces the straight line of the Equator. On the summer solstice around June 21, it eclipses the Tropic of Cancer. On March 1st, it will follow the line commemorating the day that Deerfield Academy was founded in 1797.
 
ORIENTATION:  Note that the Deerfield Dial and its compass rose are angled about 8º from the path leading to the dial, which is parallel to the campus pathways and buildings to the East as well as to the main road along which the town was originally settled in 1673. That the direction of this road appears to bear no relation either to geographic North or magnetic North suggests that its original alignment was influenced only by the surrounding terrain.

MATERIALS:  The dial plate is made of gabbro, an igneous rock from the Shanxi Province in China. The brass gnomon post and anchor have a dark green patina finish, while the gnomon is made of 316 stainless steel with a black passivate finish. The pedestal is carved from Indiana limestone, a fine sedimentary rock from Bedford, Indiana.

The information panels and large pointers of the compass rose are made of green granite from the mountains near Lake Placid, New York, while the small red granite pointers were quarried in Wausau, Wisconsin. The gray granite pavers in the main area come from Barre, Vermont. The cardinal letters on the compass rose are made of blackened brass.

Deerfield Academy
7 Boyden Lane, Deerfield, Massachusetts 01342
Phone: (001) 413-772-0241  
https://deerfield.edu

ORIGINS: The Burghley Dial was commissioned by Lady Victoria Leatham to commemorate the life and work of her ancestor William Cecil (1520-1598), the Lord High Treasurer and chief advisor to Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), who made him Baron Burghley in 1571. Burghley House was built between 1555 and 1587. The Burghley Dial is located in the Garden of Surprises, about 350 yards East of Burghley House, at latitude 52°:38’:32.25″ North, longitude 0°:26’:48.92″ West. The inscription around the edge of the dial plate reads:  In memory of William Cecil, the 1st Lord Burghley (1520-1598), who much delighted in making garden, fountains and walks.

DESIGN: The dial’s pedestal is a heptagon, each side representing one of the planets from which the names of the seven days of the week evolved.  Based on the ancient Egyptian concept of an Earth-centered universe, the planets — those seen with the naked eye (Sun and Moon included) — were believed to orbit the Earth in order of their perceived distance:  Saturn (the most distant), Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon.  Each hour of the 24-hour day was assigned to a planet, using the same order repeated consecutively for a period of seven days.  Each day was named for the planet that governed its first hour:  hence, Saturn’s day became Saturday, the Sun’s Day, Sunday, & etc. Since the planets were associated with mythological gods of different cultures, the day names vary linguistically:  from Tiw, the old English name for the Nordic god Tyr, comes Tuesday. The equivalent Roman war god is Mars, from which mardi, martedi, and other related names derived.

MATERIALS: The dial, the meridian, and its vertical plate facing due South are made of gabbro, an igneous rock from China; the pedestal was carved by the stonemasons at Burghley House from a single block of Clipsham limestone that came from a nearby quarry; the pavers used for the compass rose are made of Yorkstone.

Burghley House
Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 3JY, England
Telephone: (+44) 01780 752451
https://www.burghley.co.uk/

ORIGINS: The Pomfret Dial was commissioned to honor the 99 graduating students in the Class of 2004. It is located in the quad behind the main school building, close to the Corzine Athletic Center  and Olmsted Student Union, at latitude 45º53′:88.18” North and longitude 71º:57′:52.94” West.

SPECIAL OCCASIONS: The graduation of the Class of 2004 took place on Saturday, June 5. On that date each year, when the Sun is shining, the shadow of the gnomon’s bead will follow that line to commemorate that occasion.

DESIGN: The dial plate is about 47 inches in diameter and, on its pedestal composed of six interlocking sections of Barre granite, it stands about 42 inches high. It was the first “Monumental-style” Longitude Dial.

MATERIALS: The dial and the meridian plate are made of gabbro, an igneous rock from China; the pedestal and the surrounding paved area are made of Barre granite from a quarry in Barre, Vermont.

ORIGINS AND HISTORY: In January 2007, Enrique Pasta, the Director of Administration and Finance in the Department of Education in Guerrero, saw Dava Sobel’s article “Sunny Side Up,” which had recently been published in the Patek Philippe Magazine (see “Media” section above).  At that time, Mr. Pasta was looking for ideas for a suitable monument to commemorate the bicentenary of Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain, a long struggle in which Guerrero and its capital Chilpancingo had played a significant role.  A sundial, particularly one that would feature Chilpancingo in the center, seemed worth pursuing, so, in early April 2007, he invited William Andrewes for his first visit to discuss ideas and a possible location at the Governor’s Palace.

When Andrewes asked him how large the dial should be, Mr. Pasta suggested five meters, so that became the scale on which the project developed. Soon after the first design was submitted, the decision was made to change the location and create a Bicentennial Park that could be enjoyed by the general public. An area adjacent to the future home of the State of Guerrero Judiciary buildings was approved by Governor Zeferino Torreblanca, and Architect Jorge Madrigal and his associates began developing the site. In March 2010, the Federal Government of Mexico approved funding for the entire project, which included a completely new design for the Chilpancingo Dial and for a Bicentennial Arch with a meridian at the park entrance.  Construction progressed rapidly, but in April 2011, a new governor was elected and the funds were gradually used for other projects. Letters written by Senator John Kerry (who subsequently became Secretary of State) and colleagues at Cambridge University, Harvard, and MIT, and an article by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto published in El Mundo (Madrid, Spain) encouraged the new administration to continue the project, but by 2013, the work on site came to a standstill when no further funds were made available. Despite countless emails and every effort by Enrique Pasta, the situation did not change.

Thankfully, the Bicentennial Arch and its meridian (see “Chilpancingo 2” above) were completed before these political upheavals took place. Between November 2017 and March 2018, Chilpancingo Dial’s design was displayed in the exhibition “Globes” at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris.  Yet even with this international recognition, the site remains abandoned and unfinished. Only with additional financing will it be possible to complete this public monument to Mexico’s independence.

SPECIAL OCCASION: Cielo y Tierra (Heaven and Earth), the name given to the Chilpancingo Dial, was designed and constructed to commemorate the bicentenary of the Congress of Chilpancingo at which Mexico’s first declaration of independence was ratified. The Congress took place in the Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción in Chilpancingo.  It was there, on September 13, 1813, that José María Morelos presented his Sentimientos de la Nación (“Feelings of the Nation”), a now famous document that laid out the principles of a constitution to establish Mexico’s independence from Spain.
This monumental sundial was chosen to mark the bicentenary of this seminal event in Mexico’s history, because it combines two elements linking the past and the present: astronomy (which played such an important role in the pre-Columbian world) and time measurement (a foundation stone of our present civilization).

DESIGN: With the armillary hemisphere (representing the heavens) arching over the dial (symbolizing Mother Earth), it illustrates the universe known to the Olmecs, Aztecs, and other ancient civilizations, and hence its name: Cielo y Tierra.
The five-meter diameter hour ring encircles the map, and the water in the oceans flows off the edge into the surrounding channel. The fifteen-meter armillary hemisphere arching over the dial supports the gnomon, the shadow casting wire that indicates the time on the hour circle. The compass rose terrace has been designed to appear like an island, echoing the original island city of Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Mexica civilization. The water surrounding the compass rose flows from under its perimeter into the waterfall and moat. Like the causeways that connected Tenochtitlan to the mainland, steps and bridges provide access to the sundial from the North, East, and South, and ramps lead up to the West entrance.

Located in the Bicentennial Park, Chilpancingo, Guerrero, Mexico at latitude at 17º : 31′ : 8.90” North and latitude 99º : 29′ : 4.53” West.

ORIGINS: In 2009, the decision was made to relocate the Chilpancingo Dial from the site originally proposed in the courtyard of the Governor’s Palace (Palacio de Gobierno del Estate de Guerrero) to an undeveloped area about one mile southeast, close to the main highway between Mexico City and Acapulco. Enrique Pasta, who had been appointed by Governor Zeferino Torreblanco to direct this project, hired an experienced architect Jorge Madrigal to develop the site into a Bicentennial Park to commemorate the Congress of Chilpancingo, where Mexico’s first declaration of independence from Spain was ratified on September 13, 1813. The Congress took place in Chilpancingo’s Cathedral (Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción de Chilpancingo). The grand arched entrance to this cathedral, through which José María Morelos and other leaders of the revolution marched, inspired William Andrewes to adopt this as a symbolic feature in the design of the entrance to the Bicentennial Park. Using the same dimensions, the cathedral’s entrance was multiplied on four sides to form a triumphal arch.

COMMEMORATING A SPECIAL OCCASION: This four-sided entrance arch, standing just over 30 feet high, was designed to serve not only as a formal gateway to the Bicentennial Park, but also as a meridian to mark the moment of noon each day. In the middle of the arch’s roof is a small aperture which, precisely at noon, admits a beam of sunlight that shines on to the meridian line beneath. This meridian, inlaid in the center with a brass bar, is made of Wausau Red granite from Wausau, Wisconsin. The granite is engraved along its 30-foot length from the Winter Solstice to the Summer Solstice with the date, the Sun’s location in the zodiac, the seasons, and the number of hours of daylight and darkness. Like other meridians in Europe, the Chilpancingo meridian is large enough show clearly the variation in the length of each year during the leap-year cycle, over which its calendar has been averaged.

One of most important events that led to the Congress of Chilpancingo in 1813 was the meeting that took place in the village of Charo in Michoacan in October 1810 between Miguel Hidalgo (1753-1811), the Roman Catholic priest who founded the revolution, and his former student José María Morelos (1765-1815).  Enrique Pasta commissioned two life-size bronze sculptures to portray their conversation: the 45-year-old Morelos had come to see Hidalgo, who was 57, to offer his services as chaplain to the revolutionary army. He is greatly surprised, however, when his former teacher turned to him and said: “I need no chaplain. Go to la Tierra Caliente, get the people up in arms, and take the Fort of San Diego in Acapulco!”

Morelos is shown holding in his lap a map Hidalgo had just given him of the bay and fort of Acapulco. Eventually, Morelos agreed to help and succeeded in capturing the Fort of San Diego, which effectively cut off trade from the Far East, one of the principal sources of revenue for Spain. After Hidalgo’s execution in 1811 (only nine months after their conversation took place), Morelos continued the revolution and organized the Congress of Chilpancingo in September 1813 at the Catedral de Santa María de la Asunción, where he presented his vision for the future of Mexico in his now-famous document titled Sentimientos de la Nación.

The setting for these sculptures was designed to be viewed from above as a crucifix leading out from the entrance arch. The figures of Hidalgo and Morelos are seated in the center of the cross within a circle formed of three benches, representing the Holy Trinity. Surrounding this circle is a five-pointed star, the plan view of the Fort of Acapulco.  

The Chilpancingo Meridian is situated about 40 yeards southeast of the Chilpancingo Dial at 17º : 31′ : 07.65” North, 99º : 21′ : 03.81” West.