[eru]

A space elevator is not aligned with the axis of earth's rotation. It sounds like what you are describing is a different device?

[marginalia_nu]

Why would a sun dial need to point in the north/south direction? It just needs to point up along the normal axis of the ground (assuming flat ground).

[eru]

From the original comment I replied to:

> Jam a stick in the ground aligned with the earth's axis and take your bearing from the shadow's direction.

[marginalia_nu]

Ah, that comment would be incorrect.