Analemma
- “what is an analemma”
- “why does the sun make a figure 8”
- “equation of time explained”
- “analemma photograph”
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The short answer
Two views of one thing. The equation of time is the analemma's east-west component expressed as a number — how many minutes solar noon runs ahead of or behind clock noon. The analemma is that number plotted against the Sun's declination.
Side by side
| Aspect | Analemma | Equation of time |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A curve | A number |
| Shows | Both components | East-west only |
| Used on | Sundials, globes | Timekeeping |
| Same data | Yes | Yes |
Which one you meant
Readers who land here meaning Analemma rather than Equation of time are usually searching for phrases like “what is an analemma”, “why does the sun make a figure 8”, “equation of time explained”.
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