- a flagpole, telephone pole, or other similar object that casts a shadow onto a paved area around midday
- all-weather paint
- an accurate clock that measures to the nearest second
If there is no flagpole or telephone pole available, you will need:
- a paved area, about 3 m by 3 m (10 ft by 10 ft), on which you can make paint marks
- a rigid stake or rod, at least 1.25 m (4 ft) long
- a heavy hammer, such as a sledgehammer
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| Note: For a full analemma, you will need to work on the project for 12 straight months. If you have access to the area for only part of a year, you can still trace out a portion of the analemma. In general, you will need at least three months to see enough of the pattern for it to be recognizable. |
Obtain any necessary permission to use the paved area for about 15 minutes at the same time each day, and to paint marks on it. Select a time that you will have available each day, preferably around midday. You will be marking the position of a shadow on the paved area at the same time each day.
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| Note: If you are setting up the project in September or March, the tip of the shadow will be close to the crossed part of the analemma. If you are setting up in June or July, the tip of the shadow will be near one end of the figure eight. For December or January, the tip will be near the other end. Think about when the sun is high or low in the sky during the year and anticipate how your figure might develop. |
If you have no flagpole or telephone pole available, you will need to use a stake. Set up your project at the paved area on a sunny day close to your selected time. For locations in the Northern Hemisphere, take your stake to the south side of the paved area. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, take it to the north side. Place one end of the stake on the ground. Hold your stake vertically or at a steep angle until the tip of the shadow falls inside the paved area. Keep your stake at the angle you decided upon and drive it into the ground until it is secure enough not to move throughout the year. Your setup is now complete.
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| Note: It is important that all of your observations are made at exactly the same time of day, to the second if possible. Do not worry if you are not able to mark the position of the shadow every day. You will probably have enough sunny days during the year to give you a clear indication of the figure. |
You can begin your project on any day you choose, as long as it is sunny. At your selected time, mark the position of the tip of the shadow by painting a mark on the pavement. Label your mark and record the date and time in a journal.
Good luck!
Here are partial results for our indoor analemma project made with a mirror… |
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