The sundial is in the form of a post horn depicted in the coat of arms of Auce municipality, surrounded by a bow with the first bars of the municipal song “Jauka dzīve Vecauce”.

The horn is designed as a set of parallel planes, giving the impression of a three-dimensional all-metal object in the rear view, while the transparency in the side view gives it an impression of lightness.

The sundial is a specific time-keeping mechanism that uses the visual movement of the Sun (and its shadow) across the sky throughout the day, caused by the Earth’s rotation. The shape and position of the sundial is designed to show the time according to astronomical calculations in sunny weather. The time is indicated by the shadow cast by the inclined bar on the hour markers. The hour-markers placed in a diagonal position represent summer time in our time zone. In winter, one hour must be subtracted. The scientific name for this slanting shadow thrower is the gnomon, and it not only faces north but even points to Polaris. To read the time, you have to look at the shadow of the gnomon. Whichever hour sign (the slanted cylinders) it is closest to, that is the hour it is at (depending on the context – just was or about to be).

Sundial unveiled 25.07.2015. XX Auce District Festival. The author of the design idea and technical design is Mārtiņš Gills. The pedestal of the clock was made by “Akmens stils” Ltd. under the direction of Uldis Gaušs, and the metal structures – by Aivars Oleksāns, “Lakta” Ltd.

Photos from the archives of the Auce Municipality.