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Sundial vs Heliometer - What's the difference?

sundial | heliometer |

As nouns the difference between sundial and heliometer

is that sundial is a simple timekeeping device in which the shadow cast by a vertical pole or plate (the gnomon) is used to indicate the time of day while heliometer is an astronomical instrument, based on a telescope, for measuring the diameter of the sun; now used to measure the angular distance between stars and other celestial bodies.

sundial

English

(wikipedia sundial)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A simple timekeeping device in which the shadow cast by a vertical pole or plate (the gnomon) is used to indicate the time of day.
  • *
  • *:Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ ("I never) understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics."

    • heliometer

    English

    (wikipedia heliometer)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An astronomical instrument, based on a telescope, for measuring the diameter of the sun; now used to measure the angular distance between stars and other celestial bodies.

    • Related terms

    * heliometric * heliometry