BROCKENHURST College is reaching for the stars following the recent opening of its astonomical observatory.

To mark the occasion pupils visited the UK's best-known astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, pictured, and toured his own observatories.

They also asked Sir Patrick about his experiences and on topics ranging from his pioneering work with pre-Apollo space missions to the possible fate of the Universe.

The College's A-level science lecturer Alex Crutchley said: "Sir Patrick has an insatiable energy and enthusiasm for astronomy education. This was abundantly clear from the minute we walked through his front door."

The college has been running a GCSE astronomy course for eight years, for day and evening students, and is now one of the largest centres for the course.

It has also added an optional unit of Astrophysics for it's a-level physics students.

"Unlike astrophysics, astronomy is a practical subject and therefore requires suitable equipment. The new observatory has given students the opportunity to witness the wonders of our night and day skies.

"It also enables today's students to escape the rigours of continual assessment and begin to appreciate how small and insignificant we really are in this vast and dynamic universe," he said.