What is a sunray dial?

A sunray dial is a type of sundial designed to indicate the time using the position of the sun's rays. It typically features a flat surface marked with hour lines and a gnomon, which is a vertical stick or post that casts a shadow onto these hour lines. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow of the gnomon aligns with different hour markings, allowing users to determine the time based on the sun's position. Sunray dials can be both functional and decorative, often found in gardens and parks.