This contribution summarized the ways in which astronomical teaching was evolving and some of the teaching aids that could be employed. The work of GIREP (Groupe International de Recherche sur l’Enseignment de la Physique) – which holds conferences on the teaching of physics, including astronomy, every two years – was described together with some material reported at the 1986 conference which was devoted to astronomy.

Astronomical education is undergoing a fundamental change in Poland with the introduction in 1987 September of a revised astronomy programme. Although previously taught as a separate subject, it was often neglected by pupils concentrating on examinations for other subjects. Astronomy is now treated as part of the physics course and will be taught to all grades of pupils. This contribution also described the encouragement of astronomy through school astronomy groups, summer camps and the Astronomy Olympiads, where the winners are excused from entrance examinations to university if taking astronomy or physics courses.

Astronomy is an optional subject available at some schools, but is generally underfunded. A recent government campaign aims to increase the knowledge of computing and astronomy has been fruitfully linked with this. Details of three specific areas were given: computer-based training; modelling and simulation; and guided programming, where the pupil has to master both astronomical and computational problems.

Being sited in a large city (with about 10 million inhabitants), the planetarium at Bombay has to try to meet the requirements of a very wide range of visitors, some 3.3 million of whom have seen presentations. These visitors come from very different linguistic, cultural, religious, economic and educational backgrounds, which pose many problems in arranging suitable programmes. (There are 16 major languages and many less common ones.) School children make up the bulk of visitors and presentations for them are linked to their academic grade. Amateur astronomical organisations are gradually coming into existence in India, and the planetarium provides help and encouragement to them. Special shows are made for many individual groups of people, ranging from lovers of poetry and fine arts to invalids and the handicapped. A wide range of additional activities such as competitions, field trips and exhibitions is also provided.

An observatory, laboratory and planetarium were set up by pupils at a school in Nice with assistance from the Club des Pleiades. Various presentations were given, for children and adults, and some with the assistance of astronomers from the Observatory at Nice for teacher-training.

This planetarium with inflatable dome is available to schools, colleges and youth centres in the region. Each institution using the equipment provides its own lecturer, supported by various levels of documentation, discussion sessions and alternative displays. In the first year about 50 organisations used it, each for about a week, with some 15 000 child, and 6000 adult visitors. No serious problems were encountered despite this intensive use.

This large planetarium has about 250000 visitors every year. It seats 201 persons and has a modern Carl-Zeiss Jena projector. Two or five showings from a series of about ten different programmes are given daily to the general public. Special programmes at a much higher level are presented in conjunction with navigation, astronomy and other academic courses.

New York is probably unique in metropolitan cities worldwide in that it has no “official” or “public” astronomical institution. The Amateur Astronomers’ Association, an amateur body, fulfils that role and answers many queries from the general public and various organisations. Founded in 1927, it has around 500 members. Apart from providing all the usual services to its members, it also organizes regular observing sessions in parks and open spaces away from the worst of the light-pollution. It staged very successful public Halley watches in which over 10000 visitors participated.

In 1967, the Kawasaki Astronomy Club organized the first national assembly for amateur astronomers. This was such a success that a second was held in 1969 and yearly thereafter. Since the establishment in 1982 of the Kaho Prize commemorating Kaho, who was the first Japanese to discover a new comet (in 1936), this award has been presented at the Convention.

Recent studies have shown that there are some 60000 amateur astronomers in France. This has been reflected in the number of astronomical clubs that have been formed. This contribution summarized the aims and activities of such clubs, the conditions for their success, and their contribution to scientific astronomy.

In 1978 Venezuelan amateur astronomers decided to meet yearly to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and discussion of observing programmes. The contribution summarized the ten years of work and the papers that had been presented to the meetings.

The various units of this observatory consist of a planetarium – which has a complex computer-controlled system – the programmes for which are varied with different degrees of astronomical information and entertainment value; observing stations with 12.5, 40, and 60–cm instruments, used for regular public observing nights, special events, and special programmes for young children and their parents as well as specific older groups; a mobile observatory with a 32–cm telescope; and a series of astronomical courses.

The Flammarion Astronomical Society of Montpellier was founded in 1902 and remained very active until 1923, when the death of certain prominent members, precipitated its own demise. An observatory in the Tour de la Babote was opened in 1903 but fell into disrepair in the 1920s. One prominent member was Marcel Moye, who on his death in 1939, left his instruments to the S.A.F., accompanied by the sum of 100 000 Fr, half of which was used to endow an award for young astronomers.

Although with limited equipment, this small observatory mounts a permanent exhibition and conducts various astronomical courses. It is primarily concerned with astronomical education and is visited by 5000–6000 pupils every year.

The Alsace Group of the S.A.F. is closely associated with the Strasbourg Observatory and is responsible for supervising visits by the public after planetarium shows. The 6-inch refractor was restored by three of the amateurs and the Group has the use of the 21-cm refractor for planetary photography and other projects.

The observatory is both a school and public observatory. Lectures are arranged for pupils at various levels as well as courses for teachers. Since 1959 astronomy has been a compulsory subject in schools in the D.D.R. (one of only four countries in the world in which this is the case). The observatory also participates in scientific work, particularly in the field of variable stars, where it has always had very close links with Sonneberg Observatory.

The Institute provides facilities for school and group visits and these have also included “Astronomical Weeks” (held on more than one of the islands in the group) and yearly open days. In 1985 the formal opening of the Institute engendered so much publicity that at the first open day at the Rocque de los Muchachos Observatory, 15 000 people attended. (The island’s total population is 80 000.) During 1986, a special event organized at a beach on Tenerife was attended by an estimated 70 000 people, thousands more being prevented by an enormous traffic jam. A month later, the inhabitants of La Palma switched off all private and street lights throughout the island for a period of 3 hours. Because of the interest and demand from local people and tourists, additional visitors’ centres are planned.

The Dominion Astrophysical arranged 20 special viewing sessions for Comet Halley, and although most of these were clouded out, some 3000 people attended. The Observatory receives 30 000 visitors annually and its display area was recently renewed. This was done on a very limited budget, but the display succeeded in providing both scale and distance models of Solar-System bodies, telescope models, and much visual material, all accompanied by bi-lingual text.

The SAO offers a wide range of public-relations services. For example, research results may be transmitted, via reporters, to newspapers or television stations. More direct approaches include “Observatory Nights”, special events for children, series of popular lectures, and publication of lecture series as popular books. Television, radio and film are used whenever possible to provide information about general and specific events. Standard information packages answer many of the 5000 written requests received annually. Day-to-day queries are handled (in part) by an automatic telephone answering service. At the SAO’s Whipple Observatory in Arizona (site of the MMT), visits are by guided bus tours from the foot of the mountain 18 miles (32.5 km) away. Concrete pads have been installed at the base-camp for the use of amateur astronomers – perhaps the only amateur observing site connected with a major U.S. observatory.

The three research centres (Paris, Meudon, Nancay) receive groups totalling about 10 000 visitors per year, consisting primarily of school-children and the general public. Tours begin with a slide-show and then visits to the instruments are guided by an astronomer. One-day courses for teachers are held at Meudon and Nancay once a month and observing evenings at Meudon. Open days are held frequently, and in May 1985, despite dreadful weather, 30 000 people visited Meudon. Each centre has prepared brochures describing its work, together with lists of postcards, slides and other material. Three slide-shows are available, and others are in preparation.