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Astronomical instruments

Sundials have been familiar to northern Europe since the early Middle Ages and were initially often carved on churches. The more modern, portable table and pocket sundials are of later origin. This is because they require accurate south orientation and thus a compass, which did not become common property until the 15th century. A prerequisite for the construction of portable sundials was the ability to produce the compass in a suitably handy design.
The most important development was the folding sundial, consisting of two collapsible plates between which the shadow casting thread is stretched. Around 1500, the construction of folding sundials became indigenous to Nuremberg, and from the middle of the 16th century they were made there, mainly from ivory
The equatorial or equinoctial sundial system developed in the middle of the 17th century. In these sundials, the dial is parallel to the equator.

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