Editing Astronomical clock (section)

=== Time of day ===
[[File:Astroclock-24hourdial.svg|thumb|How the [[24-hour analog dial]] might be interpreted.]]
[[File:Astroclock-zodiac.png|thumb|Diagram showing how the [[zodiac]] is projected on to the ecliptic dial – the symbols are often drawn inside the dial.]]
[[File:Astroclock-stereographic.png|thumb|[[Stereographic projection]] from the North Pole.]]

Most astronomical clocks have a [[24-hour analog dial]] around the outside edge, numbered from I to XII then from I to XII again. The current time is indicated by a golden ball or a picture of the sun at the end of a pointer. Local noon is usually at the top of the dial, and midnight at the bottom. Minute hands are rarely used.

The Sun indicator or hand gives an approximate indication of both the Sun's [[azimuth]] and altitude. For azimuth (bearing from the north), the top of the dial indicates South, and the two VI points of the dial East and West. For altitude, the top is the zenith and the two VI and VI points define the horizon. (This is for the astronomical clocks designed for use in the northern hemisphere.) This interpretation is most accurate at the equinoxes, of course.

If XII is not at the top of the dial, or if the numbers are Arabic rather than Roman, then the time may be shown in [[Hour#Counting from sunset|Italian hours]] (also called Bohemian, or Old Czech, hours). In this system, 1 o'clock occurs at sunset, and counting continues through the night and into the next afternoon, reaching 24 an hour before sunset.

In the photograph of the Prague clock shown at the top of the article, the time indicated by the Sun hand is about 9am (IX in Roman numerals), or about the 13th hour (Italian time in Arabic numerals).