Development of an Astronomical Site for Conducting Astronomical Observations

This work is devoted to the study of astronomy within school education, despite its inclusion as a section of physics. The necessity of organizing supplementary classes aimed at enhancing students’ cognitive interest is substantiated. The active implementation of practical activities is proposed, particularly on specialized school-based astronomical sites, including the establishment of school observatories. An interactive model of a school observatory has been developed, combining specialized classrooms for student instruction with unheated pavilions equipped with telescopes for conducting educational observations. A set of practical assignments for observatory-based activities is also proposed, including planetary visualization, lunar studies, and solar activity observations. Emphasis is placed on the fact that direct observation of celestial bodies fosters curiosity and enhances students’ interest in the study of astronomy 1. The proposed model of a school astronomical observatory represents a two-level structure. The first floor consists of a heated space designed for conducting theoretical lessons, equipped with the necessary literature and computational tools. The second level features a rooftop area and an observation tower housing a telescope for practical astronomical activities. Observations will be conducted on the second level, while data processing and analysis will take place on the first floor of the building. In the course of the study, the proposed approach was tested at the Municipal Budgetary General Education Institution ‘‘Sabinskaya Secondary School’’ in the Sabinsky District of the Republic of Tatarstan. The results showed that conducting practical sessions significantly increases students’ cognitive interest in the study of astronomy.