PORTFOLIO
FEATURE
Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge (Sun-Earth Day 2005)02.01.2006
Above: screenshot of Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge web site. Click the above image to visit the web site.
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As the Sun-Earth Day program evolved over the past 5 years, it became influenced by people from around the world representing enormous diversities of interests, cultures, and beliefs. Because of this unique exposure, a thread of commonality among the cultures encountered became apparent. All had a current and often historic interest in our star, the Sun.
Due to enormous worldwide participation experienced with the SED 2004 theme, "Venus Transit", we needed to find a new theme for 2005 that would showcase Sun-Earth Connection Science and allow for cultural knowledge and historical points of view. After considerable thought, and much debate, our education community settled on a somewhat unorthodox theme for the new Sun-Earth Day web site, "Ancient Observatories: Timeless Knowledge".
Once decided, this theme unexpectedly opened doors for the Sun-Earth Day program. Educators from all walks of life and educational disciplines expressed tremendous enthusiasm to this new theme that they believed could provide a needed bridge between cross-cultural knowledge and NASA science. A new advisory board was organized that included not only scientists and educators, but cultural consultants who provided the guidance needed to ensure that all shared information was scientifically accurate, culturally sensitive and educationally sound.
To support the new theme, programs were developed with a strong solar science connection to our earth's culturally rich history of solar observation. Among the many programs developed was a live webcast from Chichen-Itza where knowledge of the ancient solar alignments was shared. NASA Connect also stepped up to the task by producing a middle school math broadcast entitled, "Ancient Observatories", where students from the Navajo Nation demonstrated how to create very simple instrument designed to mark the path of our Sun across the sky. To accommodate the enormity of this program a new website had to be created that would ensure easier access to all of the Sun-Earth Day resources.
Challenges
Our greatest challenge involved finding a way to connect NASA mission science with historic knowledge associated with ancient solar sites from around the world. The solution came in the form of a new Sun-Earth Day program entitled, "Technology Through Time". This program provided audiences with a variety of essays and images showing human-kinds ageless interest in and respect for our Sun. Each new issue showcased our reasons for studying the Sun while showcasing the technology developed to assist us in answering those questions.
TRADITIONS OF THE SUN
Traditions of the Sun
Traditions of the Sun is comprised of two award winning viewers: Chaco Culture National Historical Park and The Yucatan. Each viewer lets visitors explore various regions while learning about the Sun, Native American solar practices and science of the ancient Maya within a larger historical and cultural context.
