Season 1
Stargazing (known in the UK as Stargazing Live) is a British popular science factual television series in which Professor Brian Cox and comedian Dara Ó Briain host stargazing and discussion, whilst also featuring guest experts and link-ups to observatories around the world including Hawaii, South Africa and NASA.
The series premiered in the UK on BBC Two on 3 January, 2011.
Stargazing premiered in South Africa on DStv's BBC Knowledge channel on Friday 1 March 2013, at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are three episodes in the first season.
Season 1
Stargazing is a primetime television event which brings the wonders of the night sky into the nation's living rooms.
Its aim is to encourage everyone – from the complete beginner to the enthusiastic amateur – to make the most of the night sky.
Each episode is themed and concentrates on revealing the secrets of space. By combining revealing VTs and live material from telescopes, it asks some of the big questions.
Presented by leading scientist Brian Cox and well-known comedian and amateur astronomer Dara Ó Briain, together with Liz Bonnin and astronomer Mark Thompson, the programme interacts with the audience and calls on a collection of astronomical minds and celebrity guests to explore the wonders of the skies.
It also offers hints and tips for getting started in stargazing and advice on navigating your way around the skies.
Full of amazing views of our night skies and packed with incredible facts, Stargazing brings us the very latest science of our universe.
In the first season: though he trained as a physicist Dara is secretly a frustrated astronomer – he's been living with an unopened telescope in his attic for as long as he can remember.
So, Brian takes Dara on a crash course of the skies, showing him how to spot and take pictures of our sky's marvels. And Brian even finds time to talk to three astronauts currently floating around the International Space Station.
Plus, Jonathan Ross finds out how anyone can be an astronomer, as he's taught Astronomy 101 by the One Show's resident astronomer, Mark Thompson. Over three days, gadget-obsessed Jonathan has to prove that he can navigate the night skies with just a pencil, paper and a humble pair of binoculars.
Based at the world famous Lovell Telescope at the University of Manchester (one of the world's largest telescopes), Dara and Brian take us on a whistle-stop tour across the galaxy as they identify three of January's unusual astronomical events – a partial solar eclipse, the Quadrantids Meteor Shower and Jupiter aligning with Uranus.
As well as coaching Jonathan through the basics of astronomy, Mark Thompson will be on-hand to offer viewers at home tips on how to navigate their own way across the skies.
And with Liz Bonnin looking up at the clear skies of Hawaii to explain how the stars affect even us during the daytime, our Stargazing team will teach us everything that we've ever needed to know about our skies.
The series was commissioned by Kim Shillinglaw, Commissioner for Science and Natural History and is executive produced by Lisa Ausden for BBC Productions. The series producer is Alan Holland. Stargazing Live is co-produced by the Open University.