Who was the first person to report seeing craters on the moon using a telescope?
Exploration of the Moon Exploration of the Moon The physical exploration of the Moon began when Luna 2, a space probe launched by the Soviet Union, made an impact on the surface of the Moon on September 14, 1959. Prior to that the only available means of exploration had been observation from Earth. The invention of the optical telescope brought about the first leap in the quality of lunar observations. Galileo Galilei is generally credited as the first person to use a telescope for astronomical purposes; having made his own telescope in 1609, the mountains and craters on the lunar surface were among his
Craters of the Moon National Wilderness Craters of the Moon National Wilderness The Craters of the Moon National Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Idaho. The wilderness is managed by the National Park Service and is integral with Craters of the Moon National Monument. Set aside to protect volcanic features which ended 2,100 years ago, the wilderness has numerous lava flows, cinder cones and moon-like craters. The region was utilized by NASA to help prepare astronauts for moon walks as they believed that the region would provide a similar setting to what astronauts could expect to see on the moon. U.S. Wilderness Areas do