Planetary Orbit Clock does the ticking thing all fancy like

For all the nifty timepieces we've spotted over the years, the truth of the matter is that our cellphone, computer and microwave clocks do a solid 99 percent of our time telling around the Engadget HQ. However, that doesn't seem to have slowed these inventive clock makers one bit. The Planetary Orbit Clock reads just like a normal clock from above, but from any other angle appears to be a fairly random assortment of spheres in orbit -- perpetual motion style. It's hard to imagine us actually standing up to see what time it is with any level of regularity, but we suppose the conversation or three this thing might spark could be worth the 3,990 Yen (about $34 US) being asked for it.

[cpitch @ Mar 19th 2007 1:14PM]

My design tutor had one of these on his desk when I was at school, about 18 years ago! Ouch I suddenly feel very very old. Needless to say, it didn't have a clear box/case protecting it and as a "damn kid" I used to mess with it, forcably changing the time. Bit weird it should appear here after so long!

[Lazarus Dark @ Mar 19th 2007 1:28PM]

hmmm. Perhaps some sort of angled mirror on the top of the case would allow telling time from a front view. Looking at the top sounds quite inconvenient, though I realize the point is it just looks cool from the side.

[Brian @ Mar 19th 2007 1:30PM]

Ok, now how do I telll the time?

[Geoffrey @ Mar 19th 2007 1:30PM]

At first glance, I thought this was very cool. Unfortunately, on looking closer, I see that it is just somewhat pretty, minus most coolness. It appears that the all 3 satellites (hour, minute, second) never leave the horizontal plane of the clock face, allowing their orbits to rotate and put them in the appropriate positions. Thus, the only satellite actually appearing to follow its outlined orbit is the hour. If for nothing else, this little piece let me dream of an actual 3D model which displayed the time only when viewed from the right angle. Otherwise, I think I'll just suspend disbelief and suppose that the satellites are in VERY slow orbits, whose plane of rotation oscillates wildly.

[MC2009 @ Mar 19th 2007 1:36PM]

Oh cool, I want one!

[jon @ Mar 19th 2007 3:15PM]

interesting, where can i get one???

[FunnyPolynomial @ Mar 19th 2007 3:54PM]

Heh, I made something similar (but very crude) some time ago, the "Horrery":

http://www.funnypolynomial.com/misc/creative/horrery.html

[russdogg @ Mar 19th 2007 7:26PM]

you could just, you know, ...turn it on it's side.

[Nimrod @ Mar 20th 2007 2:16AM]

Initially found this to be very intriguing. But since I am guessing the rings do not rotate in all 3 dimensions (for $35) (it is just a wire circle) that moves as the hands rotate like any other clock and thus you would not have to look at it from above. Thusly main picture, top left, time is 5:45 and 30 seconds, bottom left is 6:30, 30 seconds, and i didnt even look at it from the top.

Now if rings rogated in ringlike fashion, THAT would be cool.

[Big Mammas Boy @ Apr 30th 2007 9:00PM]

They have the clock at thinkgeek.com

http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/92d6/