ASTRONOMERS of all ages explored the wonders of the universe thanks to a stargazing event at Oxford University.

A total of 1,130 passed through the doors of the Denys Wilkinson Building at the university's Department for Physics in Keble Road on Saturday.

Families scanned the skies as they explored into the space and the unknown.

Workshops run by The university’s physics department and experts from Oxfordshire’s amateur astronomy groups answered questions ranging from ‘what constellations can you see in the night sky this month?’ to ‘why do stars explode’ and ‘is there life on other planets?’.

Interested youngsters also took part in gravity defying experiments and tried out their presenting skills by hosting a space weather broadcast.

Among the budding stargazers were six-year-old friends Samson Harper and Stan Wallman who marvelled at the Lego model of the E-ELT - The European Extremely Large Telescope.

Samson's mum Clare Woodcock said she heard about the event through her work at the university.

The Cumnor resident said: "I just thought it would be a really interesting thing for them to do.

"They are both only six and had never been to anything like that before. I though it was a great opportunity to get kids interested in science."

Ms Woodcock said the youngsters 'really enjoyed' the European telescope and the planetarium.

She added: "It was really good. There was something for everyone.

"There was something for six year old boys and girls and there also some hard science."

Mark Richardson, Oxford University’s post-doctoral researcher in astrophysics said: “Astronomy is a great gateway to science, for people of all ages.

"Children are naturally inquisitive and interested in the unknown, particularly understanding space and the world above them.

"It’s important to keep feeding this curiosity, otherwise our next great astronomer may not choose a career in science."

Josue Martinez Hardigree, postdoctoral researcher in Organic Solar Cells, showed his appreciation for the event.

He tweeted: "Absolutely awesome Stargazing Oxford event this evening.

"Amazing to see so many kids excited about physics. The future is bright."