The Maharaja's Observatory in Jaipur, India

In the 1720’s, Maharaja Jai Singh II moved the capital of Rajasthan to Jaipur. He wanted to make sure however, that his new capital would have sufficient instruments to measure time and determine astrological signs. He sent his team of scientists and astronomers throughout Europe to learn how to improve the common sundial, and when they returned, the Jantar Mantar (translated to calculation instrument) was constructed. The observatory has withstood the test of time and is still so accurate that it is still used for teaching and making calculations.

The Small Samrat Yantra is a sundial that is accurate to twenty seconds. The sun casts a shadow on markings of hours, minutes, and degrees. Due to the sun's position and time of year, minutes sometimes need to be added. The number of minutes to be added can be found next to the sundial. — The Small Samrat Yantra is a sundial that is accurate to twenty seconds. The sun casts a shadow on markings of hours, minutes, and degrees. Due to the sun’s position and time of year, minutes sometimes need to be added. The number of minutes to be added can be found next to the sundial.

The 27 meter tall Large Samrat Yantra (Giant Sundial) is 10 times larger than the Small Samrat Yantra and is the largest sundial in the world. The instrument is accurate to 2 seconds as its shadow moves 1 mm every second.

This sundial has two sides, one facing north (for use when the sun is in the northern hemisphere) and one facing south (for use when the sun is in the southern hemisphere).

The Jai Prakash Yantra is made up of two spherical cavities in the ground that are a map of the night sky. Wires are attached north/south and east/west and in the center is a plate with a hole in the middle. Seeing where the sun shines through the hole and hits the sphere shows the sun's latitude, longitude, and the sign of the zodiac. — The Jai Prakash Yantra is made up of two spherical cavities in the ground that are a map of the night sky. Wires are attached north/south and east/west and in the center is a plate with a hole in the middle. Seeing where the sun shines through the hole and hits the sphere shows the sun’s latitude, longitude, and the sign of the zodiac.

The Rashivalayas Yantra are comprised of twelve sundials, one for each astrological sign of the zodiac. To make an accurate observation, one must use the sundial that corresponds to the sign current zodiac sign that is indicated by the Jai Prakash.

The Maharaja's Observatory in Jaipur, India

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