[time-nuts] Crude Survey Technique

[Chris Albertson]

On Thu, Nov 21, 2013 at 11:11 AM, Don Latham <djl at montana.com> wrote:
> Lord no, John. No red wagon is needed. Use a pole and the equation of
> time, and a good watch or clock. At local noon, a shadow will be a n-s
> line.

How accurate do you need to be?   The above requires a very tall pole
to case a 300 foot long shadow.  Then you have to be quick to measure
because the Earth turns at  .25 degrees per minute.

If you need a very tall pole that is 100% vertical then hang a
weighted rope from a tall support.  Then go to the other end and watch
the seconds tick down.

A GOOD magnetic compass can do this job too.  Easier then finding s
1,000 food tall pole.   The better compasses have some kind of optical
aid for sighting a line.

-- 

Chris Albertson
Redondo Beach, California