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Recent satellite observations have demonstrated that water is the third most common molecule in the Universe. It has long been known to be a major absorber in the atmosphere of cool stars. Speculation that Sunspots contain significant quantities of water was proved correct by our assignment of very complicated absorption spectra. This analysis required the development new theoretical techniques based on obtaining full quantal solutions of the rotation-vibration problem using techniques based on the Variational Principle. The same techniques are now being applied to shorter wavelength water spectra which are important for models of the Earth's atmosphere. Current atmospheric models underestimate the solar absorption, probably because they include insufficient absorption by water.
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