Teaching Youngsters About the Moon's Surface With Limited Facilities
The maJonty of Spanish secondary schools do not have astronomical instruments for observing. Of course it is not absolutely necessary to use a telescope to teach astronomy, but its use is always interesting. One possible solution to this situation is collaboration with an Amateur Astronomical Association. It is clear that
observing the Moon's surface is a very nice discovery for young people, and we have to promote this experience.
The contents of this paper is a list of different activities for students to do before, during and after a telescopic observation of the Moon. Basically these activities are to make a simple map of the Moon's surface, to locate the main characteristics (seas,
craters, mountains .. .}, to take photographs and, finally, to calculate the dimensions of some features of the Moon's surface. To simplify this last activity it is convenient to take photographs made when the Moon is in the first or last quarter. The mathematical solution then is easier than in the general cases, and it is more appropriate for secondary school students.