ORBIS SOLARIS U XL Sundial

The solar event horizon

Exactly half the world with your own location at the center - that is the world circle (lat. orbis) shown on the ORBIS SOLARIS sundial. This world circle is the solar event horizon in which the sun moves during the year from sunrise to sunset, from the winter solstice to the summer solstice. When the sun is shining, you can continuously follow on the ORBIS SOLARIS world map where the sun is currently located above the world. This is the so-called subsolar point, the geographical location in the world where the sun is currently at its zenith.

The secret behind this extraordinary function of the sundial is the refraction of sunlight in the truncated cone made of high-purity acrylic glass (Plexiglas) sitting on the dial. The sketch shows the principle: the sun's rays, which fall through the perforated aperture on the surface, are deflected towards the center by the refraction and project a bright circle of light onto the dial. The refraction ensures that the projection of the sun's rays is drawn from infinity into a finite horizon circle.

Incredible variety of functions

The ORBIS SOLARIS offers a direct display of standard time (e.g. CET/CEST) to the minute, the date of the day and the subsolar point.  This variety of functions can only be found in our HELIOS Subsolaris. In addition, the sundial also displays the solar time and the location and times of sunrise and sunset.

It offers a lot and is also easy to set. All you need is the sun and an accurate clock to set the sundial once. A detailed manual is included.

ORBIS SOLARIS U XL Sundial

Compared to its little sister ORBIS SOLARIS U, the XL version not only offers an almost three times larger dial area, but also a finer resolution of the time and date lines. The time lines are drawn every 5 minutes instead of 15 minutes and the date lines every ten days instead of just the first of the month. Overall, the XL version with larger fonts and a more detailed world map offers a much clearer and easier reading.

ORBIS SOLARIS U - The unique sundial for your location worldwide

We calculate the sundial for your location. We determine the geographical coordinates from your address data, unless you specify a different address in the comments field when ordering. There are no restrictions when choosing a location, because the ORBIS SOLARIS is the first horizontal sundial that even works when the sun is vertical in the tropics. A conventional horizontal sundial cannot cope with this because the shadow cast is too short.

The ORBIS SOLARIS U also comes with two dials, the current one is already installed. One is for the ascending sun in winter and spring, the other for the descending sun in summer and fall. Both dials show daylight saving time with large digits and standard time with small digits. If you only want daylight saving time or standard time, please let us know in the comments field when ordering. If necessary, you can also order the other pair.

Further dials

We are open to all wishes here. For example, you can add a pair of daylight saving time dials to an ORBIS SOLARIS U with standard time dials. For sundial purists, we also offer solar time as a dial.

Birthday line

The sun itself indicates the birthday of the recipient. When the sun is shining, the circle of light moves from morning to evening along the date line of the birthday, wedding anniversary or any other anniversary. The birthday line is highlighted in color on the dial and marked with the date.

The birthday line can only be ordered for the ORBIS SOLARIS U. Please let us know the date of the anniversary in the comments field when ordering.

Base plate for the ORBIS SOLARIS

The ORBIS SOLARIS sits with three adjusting screws in the three holes of the base plate. The base plate is aligned once with the sundial in a north-south direction and then attached. If the sundial is removed, for example to replace the dial, it can then be put back into the base plate, is then immediately correctly aligned again and displays the time accurately again.