Stargazing Live has again proved a big hit for the BBC and sparked renewed interest in the thrilling sights to be found in the night sky. SIMON PARKIN looks at how to take the next steps into amateur astronomy in Norfolk

His first glimpse through a telescope at the age of 10 sparked a passion that this week again saw Mark Thompson bring the stars into the nations front rooms as part of the BBC2 Stargazing Live.

I remember it vividly, said Mark, also the One Shows astronomer and president of the Norwich Astronomical Society. I looked through the big telescope and saw Saturn, looking exactly like it did in books. Creamy brown with the trademark rings, it looked as if it was just hanging in this huge, black, velvety sky.

I dont think Ive ever seen Saturn looking better, although Ive definitely seen it more clearly since. It was incredible. I was hooked from that moment on and Ive never looked back.

Stargazing Live, which is back on our screens for a foruth series this week, aims to encourage us to forgo the comfy sofa in favour of gazing skywards to take in the glorious sight of the star-filled night sky.

The programmes, fronted by Wonders of the Solar System presenter Professor Brian Cox and comedian Dara OBriain, best known for his comedy skills but also the science-mad holder of a physics degree, also featured Mark co-presenting from various locations on to topics including how to unravel the mysteries of the universe, how best to observe the moons of Jupiter and how to use a telescope.

This year the programme has also featured live shots of stars from Kelling Heath Holiday Park, near Holt.

The three-programme event has again been a big hit attracting more than four million viewers and proving that if you present it in the right way the general public does have an interest in science and with the dark winter nights there is no better time to continue that interest.

There are a number of events happening in Norfolk (see panel right) that seek to follow up on the interest generated and encourage us to take the next step from watching on our sofa to getting out into the dark to see for ourselves.

How often have you gazed into the velvety night sky and wished you knew which constellation was which, how to spot a planet or even how to find the North Star? says Mark. A lot of people think astronomy, the universe, is a big scary subject but people can understand quite a lot of it. Its a great leveller and I think this is one of the appeals of it.

Read more:

8 ways to take up stargazing in 2014