Working Group for Sundials
in the Austrian Astronomical Society

  The logo of the "Working Group for Sundials" (left upper corner) shows one of Austria's oldest style sundials, the sundial of the St. Stephans Cathedral in Vienna

Objectives of the Working Group

1. Assistance in the preservation of historical sundials
Austria is one of the countries with the richest heritage of sundials in the world. The members of the Working Group see it as their duty to support, in the best possible manner, the authorities who are responsible for the preservation of sundials as culturally valuable assets (offices for the protection of historical monuments, communal administrations, etc.) in the restoration of dial-plates and gnomons.

2. Design of new sundials
The GSA encourages and supports the design and the construction of new sundials. Many members are able to contribute their special know-how and experience.

3. Cataloging Austrian sundials
As of 1982, sundials in Austria have been systematically registered and stored in a database that is continuously updated. Currently the database contains more than 3000 sundials. At present Adi Prattes, Klagenfurt manages the sundial database. He records newly constructed sundials, changes or loss of sundials, and updates sundial data if required. We would appreciate your informations or pictures (digital photos or prints, slides, etc.), sent to Adi Prattes.

4. Contact to other sundial associations abroad
The Working Group for Sundials is interested in contacts to foreign sundial associations. Regularly, seminars are organized, letters exchanged, and personal contacts are made.

Publications of the GSA

Since 1990, GSA has informed its members through two circulars ('RUNDSCHREIBEN') per year about events, literature, gnomonic activities of GSA members, and general articles on sundials.
Editors of the 'RUNDSCHREIBEN': 1990 to 2000 Karl Schwarzinger, 2001 to 2004 Ilse Fabian, 2005 to 2011 Klaus Göller, since 2011 Kurt Descovich.

Annual Meetings

Since 1990, GSA has organized an annual meeting in fall, usually in September. At these meetings, the members of the GSA get acquainted and exchange their experience with sundials. On the first day, lectures, slide shows and reports are presented and general matters regarding the association are discussed. The program for the second day usually includes an all-day bus trip to sundials in the respective region.

The following conferences have taken place or are planned:

1990	Wien	1991	Wien
1992	Wals bei Salzburg	1993	Szombathely, Westungarn
1994	Krems an der Donau, Niederösterreich	1995	St. Ulrich in Gröden, Südtirol
1996	Kremsmünster, Oberösterreich	1997	Schloss Seggau bei Leibnitz, Steiermark
1998	Stockerau (nahe Wien)	1999	Lienz, Osttirol
2000	Mariapfarr i. Lungau, Salzburg	2001	St. Georgen am Längsee, Kärnten
2002	Köszeg, Westungarn	2003	Weyregg am Attersee, Oberösterreich
2004	Oberperfuß, Tirol	2005	Melk, Niederösterreich
2006	Aigen-Schlägl, Oberösterreich	2007	St. Ulrich, Grödental, Südtirol (Italien)
2008	Eugendorf, Salzburg	2009	Friedersbach (nahe Zwettl), NÖ (Niederösterreich)
2010	Zernez, Engadin (Schweiz)	2011	Mödling (südlich von Wien)
2012	Breitenau (östl. von Neunkirchen), NÖ	2013	Sistiana/Duino (Triest,It)
2014	Gamlitz, Südsteiermark	2015	Hotel Donauschlinge, Schlögen
2016	Lienz, Osttirol	2017	Peygarten, Waldviertel, Niederösterreich
2018	Seeboden, Kärnten	2019	Passau, D (together with German Group)
2020	cancelled	2021	Bad Ischl, Oberösterreich
2022	Bad Sauerbrunn, Burgenland	2023	Innsbruck, Tirol

Membership

Joining the Working Group for Sundials requires membership in the Austrian Astronomic Association. You are invited to become a member by sending the filled-in application form and by transferring the annual membership fee of EUR 25,00.
Please contact Norbert Rainer or Peter Husty (see address below) for GSA membership. You will receive the application form and a payment slip.

Foundation of the Working Group

The Working Group was initiated by Karl Schwarzinger in Vienna on 13 October 1990. The chairman of the Austrian Astronomic Association, Dr. Robert Weber, the general secretary, Hermann Mucke, former director of the Urania observatory and the Planetarium Vienna, as well as 25 people from Austria and foreign countries were present. Currently, the "Working Group for Sundials" includes about 120 members.

From 1990 to 2000 Karl Schwarzinger was chairman of the Working Group. He initiated the publication of the sundial catalog and the Rundschreiben (circular letters), contacts to foreign countries, and the annual meetings. January 2001 to 19. Sep. 2008  Helmut Sonderegger has been chairman of the Working Group. As of 19. Sep. 2008 Peter Husty is chairman of the Austrian Working group.

The GSA in the Internet

Austrian Astronomical Society: https://www1.astroverein.at
Arbeitsgruppe Sonnenuhren (GSA) - Sundials in Austria:   http://www.gnomonica.at/
Software regarding sundials:   http://www.helson.at

Addresses

Astronomic bureau :

Chairman of the Working Group for Sundials:
Peter Husty, Bayernstrasse 8b, A - 5411 Oberalm
peter.husty@salzburgmuseum.at  

Editorial office for the "Rundschreiben":
DI Kurt Descovich, Hütteldorfer Strasse 50/12, A-1150 Wien
k.descovich@medek.at

Treasurer:
Norbert Rainer, Berggasse 4, A - 3500 Krems a.d. Donau
norbert_rai@tmo.at

Recording of sundials and updates:
Adi Prattes, Heizhausgasse 41, A - 9020 Klagenfurt
sonnenuhr@gmx.at

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Last update : Apr. 2023