Dr Nick Lister, who runs the Lawrence House Astronomy and Space Science Centre in Fleetwood, Lancashire, is pressing for talks with the Department for Education and Skills to discuss a relaunch.

Pupils can already do a GCSE in the subject but must make do in the sixth form with only one optional module in astrophysics as part of A-level physics.

Dr Lister believes the return of the course would better prepare pupils for university astrophysics courses and prove extremely popular.

He said: “Astronomy really has that wow factor and I don’t feel studying it as part of a physics course is enough.

“People ask me all the time if they can do an A-level in it, so I know the enthusiasm is there.”