:: COMPARE ::
The short answer
Two views of one thing. The equation of time is the analemma's east-west component expressed as a number — how many minutes solar noon runs ahead of or behind clock noon. The analemma is that number plotted against the Sun's declination.
Side by side
| Aspect | Analemma | Equation of time |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A curve | A number |
| Shows | Both components | East-west only |
| Used on | Sundials, globes | Timekeeping |
| Same data | Yes | Yes |
What each one means
An analemma is the lopsided figure-eight curve traced by the Sun's position when photographed from one fixed spot at the same clock time every day for a year. The same word names the figure-eight scale printed on globes and sundials, showing the Sun's declination and the equation of time for each day of the year.
Full definition of Analemma →The contrast above sets out how Equation of time differs from Analemma on the points that actually matter.