Meaningful Watershed Experiences through Astronomy

[Venturer Advisor]

I represent www.riskids.org and we would like to get into astronomy with our youth.

We have a pretty good activity - click here -> http://usscouts.org/usscouts/mb/mb022.asp .
 
Specifically, I'd like to offer meaningful watershed experiences through astronomy.  But I'm not well versed in the relationship between the two, if any. In Virginia youth are exposed to astronomy in the 1st through 4th grade and then very briefly in the 12th for example click here ->> http://globallearning.pwnet.org/SCI/SCI.1.8.php.
 
It seems that the priority for Virginia is to create meaningful watershed experiences. My dilemma is that in order to justify astronomy related field trips and equipment purchase opportunities for High School students, I need to be able to justify them in relationship to meaningful experiences with watersheds as defined here ->> http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/docs/mweefactsheet.pdf  
 
This is where we need your help - any ideas??

[Ron]

Venturer Advisor

I would like to welcome you to the group here and I hope you can find the help you need to connect the relationship of water to the study of Astronomy.

I think the investigations that are going on now and over the past years with looking for water on Mars should be a real connection with Astronomy and water.  Scientist are looking into the fact that there is water in Comets and Asteroids and other Planets, so to me there is a real connection of water with Astronomy.

In just looking through some of your links there seems to be a big relationship between NASA & NOAA.  The preservation of water is of great importance and I think the study of water here and within the universe should be able to teach us a lot about how to take care of it.

I have only been in Astronomy for a very short time so my experience and knowledge is very limited but trying to learn more everyday.

Ron

[rkbrook]

Venturer Advisor: Wow, that's a rather tight astronomy lessen plan you have there. I'm a novice amateur sky watcher and I would need your advice more than you would need mine. But I am a civil engineer and when it comes to a link between watershed and astronomy the first thing that comes to my mind is the tides. Of course this pretty much limits the two studies to the Moon. But flowing things have started to be detected on some moons of Saturn (at least in a geological sense). So that might be a link and geology in general could be an important adjunct study for your scouts. I always envisioned a watershed in this way: imagine I am a drop of water that hits the ground on the highest elevation of a watershed. Where would I go? What would my path be? This would need to take geology into account also. And, no single drop of water takes responsibility for the flood.

[Brian W]

 
It seems that the priority for Virginia is to create meaningful watershed experiences. My dilemma is that in order to justify astronomy related field trips and equipment purchase opportunities for High School students, I need to be able to justify them in relationship to meaningful experiences with watersheds as defined here ->> http://noaa.chesapeakebay.net/docs/mweefactsheet.pdf 
 
This is where we need your help - any ideas??
[/quote]

in m y very limited understanding watersheds are critical for the environment that you inhabit. Without them your ecosystem falls apart. On a larger scale without liquid water life as we understand it is simply impossible. The search for water on Mars is indicative of the importance of water. the finding of water on various moons in our solar system is exciting for the same reason. Astronomers are looking for planets in the 'Goldilock' region (not to hot not to cold just right for liquid water) for the same reasons. Water an d astronomy are vitally connected. there is even a theory that life came to earth via comets but it could only be successful when there was water.

Hope the above helps
Brian