In the 19th century the sundial was installed by the estate's last owner – Princess Maria Alexandrovna Chernysheva. The original pedestal and base have been preserved and remain in their historic location. The stone elements were made from local sandstone, long quarried in Lytkarino.
During the Soviet years the dial and gnomon were lost. They were restored in 2012, when a park was opened on the estate with a monument to the hero of the 1812 war, Alexander Ivanovich Chernyshev, for the 200th anniversary of Russia's victory over Napoleon. Unfortunately, the new clock did not delight visitors for long. Not everyone understood that it was a museum exhibit and a precise astronomical instrument that should be treated with care. As a result of aggressive actions the gnomon was broken.
For the opening of the new park area of the Lytkarino estate in September 2025 the sundial was restored again. It represents great historical value, preserving the memory of the former owners of Lytkarino. The clock is both an interesting museum display and an educational exhibit for astronomy enthusiasts.
Its history and symbolism are striking:
📍 The original stone pedestal made of Lytkarino sandstone has been preserved.
📍 The dial features three time scales: TRUE solar time at the estate, TRUE SOLAR time on the meridian of the Chernyshevs' house in Rome, and Moscow standard TIME (The sundial currently shows one hour more because it was calculated using solar time in 2012, and in 2014 Russia switched to winter time and has remained on it since).
📍 A separate pointer on the COMPASS ROSE indicates the direction to Rome, where the Chernyshevs had a residence.
📍 The motto of the 1812 war hero A.I. Chernyshev: "Do what must be done, and let come what may" – makes the clock unique.
This is not just an art object but a complex astronomical instrument. With its help you can determine the cardinal directions, true solar time, the DIRECTION TO THE POLAR STAR, and record SOME parameters of the solar orbit!
What do the clocks show? The dial has three scales:
✔️ Middle scale: true solar time on the meridian of the Lytkarino estate.
✔️ Inner scale: time in Rome, where the Chernyshevs' house was located.
✔️ Outer scale: standard Moscow time (+1 HOUR).
How to use the clock:
1️⃣ Find the shadow cast by the metal rod (gnomon).
2️⃣ To read the time: see which number and which scale the shadow falls on. Remember that the readings are true solar time.
3️⃣ To find north: at true noon the gnomon's shadow is shortest and always points exactly north. True solar time does not change with the introduction of summer or winter time.
4️⃣ To orient yourself: use the built-in compass rose to determine the cardinal directions.
It is important to remember: the sundial at the Lytkarino estate is not just an exhibit but a valuable historical artifact. It preserves the memory of the estate's former owners and is a unique monument to science and culture.
‼️ Please help us preserve it for future generations:
· Do not touch the surfaces of the clock with your hands.
· Do not lean on it or place items on it.
· Treat this heritage with respect and care.
Come and see this amazing mechanism that turns light into time, and history into living memory.
September 24, 2025
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A unique artifact of the Moscow region: the sundial at the Zotov-Chernyshev estate in Lytkarino has been brought back to life!
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