The apparent motion of the sun Manufacturer,Supplier and Exporter in India
Product Code : SCL-MH-12606
Quick Answer: The Apparent Motion of the Sun apparatus is a heliodon for showing the daily and seasonal path of the sun across the sky. It has a 360-degree azimuth horizon ring with a 320 mm base diameter and a latitude arm adjustable from 0° to 90° north or south.
Last updated: October 2026
Key Features
- Azimuth horizon ring graduated through 360 degrees, base diameter 320 mm
- Vertical altitude arc marked every 1°, with a locking dial knob
- Latitude pointer arm set from 0° to 90° for northern and southern hemispheres
- Separate seasonal path guides for solstice and equinox transits
- Central horizon disk with N-E-S-W markers and a vertical gnomon pin for shadow tracking
- Multi-LED solar rod and movable sun indicator sphere on a transparent arc
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Horizon ring | 360-degree azimuth scale, 320 mm base diameter |
| Altitude arc | Graduated every 1°, locking knob |
| Latitude arm | 0° to 90°, north and south |
| Path guides | Solstice and equinox tracks |
| Light source | External multi-LED solar rod |
| Materials | Cast-iron base, anodised aluminium latitude arcs, transparent acrylic half-dome |
About This Product
A heliodon turns the sky into a bench model. Students set the latitude, move the sun indicator along the arc to trace sunrise in the east and sunset in the west, then switch path guides to compare the solstices and equinoxes. The gnomon shadow on the horizon disk is used to find local solar noon and to discuss why day length and solar angle change through the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the apparatus be set for any latitude?
Yes. The latitude pointer arm adjusts from 0° to 90° for both the northern and southern hemispheres, from the Equator to the Poles.
What is the gnomon used for?
The fixed central gnomon pin casts a shadow on the horizon disk, which is used to read local solar time and true solar noon.
Related: Mechanics & Heat and The sun, the earth and the moon.
For a quotation on the The apparent motion of the sun, contact Educational Instrument.
