Observe Moon Craters

Astronomers use the shadows made by crater walls to learn more about the sizes of objects on the Moon. Make your own crater field using household items and get good at observing so you know when to look at the Moon through a telescope. Have fun making craters and watching how the shadows reveal more than the direct light does.

Use this activity from the Night Sky Network Shadows and Silhouettes ToolKit to demonstrate how craters are made, why they look like they do, and when the best observing occurs.

Click here to see a short video of this activity in action!

This demonstration is informative, interactive and as messy as you want to be - great fun for the whole family! Using materials you can find around the house, learn about our closest celestial neighbor and when the best times are for spotting craters.

Use flour, cocoa, and a flashlight to make your own lunar landscape. Download the directions here. Download PDF File (414 KB)

NOTE: You will need Adobe PDF Reader to open this file. Click here to download the latest free version.