The illustration below shows an armillary sphere, left, and an equatorial sundial, right.
Everyone would agree that the names for these instruments are correct.
In an armillary sphere, only the hour band and the pole style constitute the sundial; all other rings may be omitted. The instrument readability is thereby much improved.
But would the sundial still be an armillary sphere? Or would “open armillary sphere” or “reduced armillary sphere” be better?
The photograph below shows such a sundial in New York, USA.
This sundial is of respectable dimensions; the diameter of the ring is approximately 7.60 meters.
Note also the wires holding the pole style in place.
A sundial like this is sometimes called an “equatorial” sundial, but that does not correspond with the picture given earlier. There, the hour lines were in the equatorial plane.
But in the armillary sphere, and also in the reduced form of it, the hour lines lie in a cylindrical band. That would really make it a cylindrical dial (not to be confused with the cylinder or shepherds’ dial).
Babel everywhere.
The denominations question came from Alan Reddig. It was also a good occasion to present this substantial sundial.
Fer de Vries
Source: Alan Reddig, New York, USA.
Sundial location: Campus, Rochester Institute or Technology, New York.
Designer: Alistair Bevington.
Material and dimensions: Steel and stainless steel, 18 x 25 x 14 ft.
Realisation: 1968.
English translation: RH