Solar Time 1.5
olar Time is a 'Planetary hours' clock based on the true astronomical position of the Sun as seen by an observer on earth. Sunrise, sunset, and the maximum Sun's altitude are used to calculate the beginning of the hours and to separate day hours from night hours. The observer's latitude and longitude are needed to perform the calculations. The result is a clock synchronized with nature but the duration of the hours will vary with the season. These variable-length hours are known as temporal, unequal, or seasonal hours. A planetary hours clock like Solar Time, goes further, taking into account the ancient tradition of the 'Planetary Rulers'.
Timekeeping using such a clock is extremely complex, being that the main reason why mechanical clocks took over, and 'Civil Time' was invented. However our 'Civil Time' does not synchronize the hours with the real noon, sunrise or sunset. Computers bring us back the possibility of traditional, natural timekeeping, and Solar Time does the job for you.
The planetary rulers are an ancient system in which one of the seven traditional naked eye planets rules over each day and various parts of the day. Sunday is always the day of the Sun, Monday is the day of the Moon, Tuesday is the day of Mars, Wednesday is ruled by Mercury, Thursday is Jupiter's day, Friday is the day of Venus, and Saturday is the day of Saturn.
Each planetary day begins at sunrise, and ends at the next day's sunrise. For example, Sunrise on Saturday is the beginning of the day of Saturn. Before sunrise on Saturday, you are still under the day of Venus.
The order of the planetary hours goes by the so called Chaldean order of ruling, which is the order of speed of the planets with respect to the earth: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, and Moon. So the first hour of Saturday is ruled by Saturn, the second by Jupiter, and so on.
