Noon was also signaled by observatories for the benefit of astronomers and the general public.
Some observatories still do it.
The worlds only functioning sundial cannon in the Swedish town of Atvidaberg.
It was a sundial equipped with a tiny cannon.
The sundial cannon was used in parks to signal noon.
A smaller variety was used in many large estates to signal the time for midday meals.
Some sundial cannons approached the size of a real cannon and its boom could be heard for miles.
Today, the only functioning sundial cannon is located in the town of Atvidaberg in southeast Sweden.
The 6-pound cannon is fired everyday at 1 PM, from May to September.
Since then, the cannon has been firing away.
A small brass cannon mounted on a marble sundial base, manufactured by Rousseau of Paris.
Photo credit:www.jardinique.co.uk
The 19th century tower where Atvidabergs sun cannon is installed.
Photo credit:stillbild/Flickr
Photo credit:www.minavykort.com
Photo credit:varldenshistoria.se
Photo credit:solkanonklubben.se
Sources:Wikipedia/solkanonklubben.se/www.atvidaberg.se
