Pascal Meridian 1844, Apt, France
Posted by: 
arby101ca
N 43° 52.583 E 005° 23.789
31T E 692536 N 4860934
In the town of Apt in the heart of Provence is a Meridian noon mark carved by P. E. Pascal in 1844.
Waymark Code: WM7KMY
Location: France
Date Posted: 11/05/2009
Views: 9
This Meridian shows average or local clock time (Temps Moyen) at noon throughout the year. The altitude of the sun determined by the declination of the sun and the latitude is plotted with the equation of time to give the analemma shaped correction for the clocks. The date marks are engraved for every four days throughout the year. The gnomon is in place and the dial still accurately marks solar noon.
Pascal refers to the equations of F. Bedos de Celles and Ferdinand Berthoud for the determination of the Equation of time correction. Berthoud was a well known maker of astronomical instruments and chronometers. Berthoud was a scientist with Napoleon’s expedition to Egypt.
Apt is a market city in the heart of Provence, north of Aix en Provence and east of Avignon between the Luberon and Vaucluse hills. Most people pass through on their way to the general tourist destinations of Provence without considering that this city blocking the valley has anything to offer. It is known locally for its Saturday market, perhaps the best in Provence. But for someone interested in sundials, there is quite a collection of historic sundials hidden in the side streets and squares off the main shopping street. The dials are engraved in stone and track the sense of time in the 17th century up to the introduction of standard time. Analemma noon marks are common to correct the clocks and mean time to the true time shown by sundials. These waymarks form the basis of an Apt Sundial Tour.
Sundial Type: Vertical - Wall mounted dial plate
Related Web Site: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
Only one log per location per person. You should log your own waymarked sundials as well.
GPS in photo optional.