Season 2
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. Season 2 has not yet aired in South Africa.
Season 2
Stargazing Live returns for a three-episode season set to encourage everyone – from the complete beginner to the enthusiastic amateur – to make the most of the night sky.
Professor Brian Cox and Dara Ó Briain broadcast from the control room of the Jodrell Bank radio observatory in Cheshire, interacting live with a live audience and calling on a starry collection of the country's finest astronomical minds to explore the majestic wonders of the skies above Britain.
As they showcase breathtaking images from the world's most powerful telescopes, Brian and Dara will be joined by celebrities and scientific experts including Mark Thompson, Liz Bonnin, space nut Jon Culshaw and guest of honour Captain Eugene Cernan, the last man ever to walk on the surface of the moon.
In an information-packed jaunt across the cosmos, Brian and Dara will look at Moons (episode 1), the Galaxy (episode 2) and the Search For Life (episode 3), teaching us everything we've always wanted to know about the Solar System, our Milky Way and the deepest recesses of space.
In their own unique style, the pair will tackle some of the most intriguing questions in astronomy, such as Why Does the Moon Cause The Tides?, How Do We Know Where Black Holes Are When They Are impossible To See? and What Will We Actually Say If We Ever Make Contact With An Alien Race?.
Closer to home, there will also be hints and tips for getting started in stargazing and advice on navigating your way around the skies.
During the season, the Stargazing audience (in collaboration with the citizen science organisation Zooniverse) will be asked to help make scientific history as they're invited to join an online experiment to discover a brand new planet, far outside the confines of our solar system.
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.