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Gnomon: 24 Solar Terms
By 丞辰 郑
About Gnomon: 24 Solar Terms
Before clocks divided hours into digital numbers, humanity looked to the gnomon—a simple vertical pillar casting light and shadow upon the earth to understand the turning of the year. Gnomon brings this ancient cosmological instrument to modern iOS. Built for mindfulness, astronomical curiosity, and quiet reflection, it reveals the 24 Solar Terms and 72 micro-seasons through the purity of light. KEY FEATURES • Pure Astronomical Precision: Powered by an offline, deterministic VSOP87 planetary engine. Pinpoints the exact cosmic instant the Sun c…
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Gnomon brings this ancient cosmological instrument to modern iOS. Built for mindfulness, astronomical curiosity, and quiet reflection, it reveals the 24 Solar Terms and 72 micro-seasons through the purity of light.
KEY FEATURES
• Pure Astronomical Precision: Powered by an offline, deterministic VSOP87 planetary engine. Pinpoints the exact cosmic instant the Sun crosses every 15° celestial longitude—shared simultaneously worldwide, translated to your local meridian.
• Living Solar-Noon Gnomon: Watch the noon shadow lengthen toward the December Solstice and shrink toward the June Solstice. Scrub through the year with smooth gestures to witness Earth’s tilt reflected in pure geometry.
• 72 Micro-Seasons (Hou): Nature changes every five days. Discover poetic observations of swallows arriving, peach trees blossoming, and the first frost settling, paired with gentle seasonal rituals for daily life.
• Dual Meridian Anchors: Switch effortlessly between your current device time zone and the historical origin of solar measurement (Taosi / Luoyang, 34.6° N). Explore worldwide observatories across hemispheres without needing invasive GPS tracking.
• Wabi-Sabi Aesthetics & Haptic Craft: Designed with celadon porcelain textures, rice-paper warmth, and tactile haptic feedback. A quiet sanctuary on your Home Screen.
A closer look
What’s new in version 1.3.1
What’s New in Version 1.3.1 · Living Phenology & Astrolabe Motion
This release brings a calmer visual rhythm, playful 3D tactile physics, and lively seasonal storytelling to Gnomon:
1. 72 Micro-Seasons Phenology Story Card
• The ancient 72 pentads are now front and center on your home screen. Meet seasonal spirit companions, discover the lore behind each micro-season, and receive gentle daily mindfulness invitations (Notice → Understand → Keep).
2. 3D Voxel Observer Hop & Squash Physics
• Tap the voxel observer on the sundial courtyard to trigger a lively 4-stage jump animation: anticipation dip, airborne hop, landing impact squash, and spring settle, paired with crisp haptics and ink harmonics.
3. Mechanical Astrolabe Vertical Bobbing
• Scrubbing through the year now features physical vertical bobbing with spring damping, giving the circular dial the tangible tactile feel of an antique astronomical instrument.
4. Real-Time Solar Shadow Delta HUD
• As you scrub the dial across the year, the live HUD instantly calculates the noon shadow percentage difference relative to today (e.g., “+18% longer than today”), demystifying solar altitude and solstice progression.
5. Deep Almanac & Body Harmony Drawer
• Progressive disclosure redesign: Hexagram synchronicity and Huangdi Neijing meridian nourishment are neatly tucked into an elegant collapsible drawer, keeping the main canvas serene and uncluttered.
Thank you for observing the light and seasons with Gnomon.
