PROJECTS

ORIENTED GLOBE

What is this strange globe?

It is called Oriented Globe or Parallel Globe. Centuries ago, these were called Spherical Sundials. They were used for keeping track of time.

 

Why is Hanover NH at the top of the Globe?

Because you are at the top of the globe – wherever you are. So if you are in Hanover, the rest of the world is, in a sense, under your feet. The Globe tries to represent your situation in the world. Look for the North and other cardinal directions, and figure out where you should go if you wanted to go to a faraway country. The Globe is oriented, so you can plan your trips from where you are to the rest of the world!

 

All globes I have seen so far spin. This one doesn’t. Why?

Well, it does spin, give it a little time. As it is anchored to the Earth, and as the Earth spins, the Globe will spin too. Wait and see.

 

What can I learn from it?

You need to look at the shadow on the globe. (So the Globe needs some Sun in order to work.) You will see that, say, if it is early morning in Hanover, the Sun has already set in India. And when the Sun sets in Hanover, it rises in Japan. You can see the Earth as a spaceship would see it now from outer space.

 

Are there big changes from season to season?

Yes. The Sun at any moment always lits a half globe, but from season to season you will see that the portion that is lit up changes. From end September to end-March, the South Pole receives light, and the North Pole does not. From End March through end September, it is the other way around.

 

Is this a precise globe? I can see that many islands are missing!

Well, we did it without using precision instruments, by copying a standard globe. It is not extremely accurate, but it is still a good approximation.

 

Does it work at night?

No. But many other similar globes work while this one is sleeping.

 

Can I bring the Globe to Tokyo or to San Francisco or to Paris?

You can, but it would not work. It can only work for the place that is at its top! If someone stole it, it would not go too far!

At different times of the day on june 24th, 2014, globe situated at 43°41′34″N 72°13′18″W in Etna, New Hampshire, Usa. Hanover is on the top. Different views, at different times of the day, show the pattern of shadows on Earth as an astronaut would see them at the same time.

The Globe has been manufactured by Anni Casati (3rd grade, class of Ms Amrhein; Nina Casati (4th grade, class of Mr Scribner) together with their parents Beatrice and Roberto, June 20th , about the Summer solstice of 2014. Ray School, Hanover, NH.