From Africa’s first Planetarium to a ground-breaking Digital Dome

When one thinks of a planetarium in South Africa, the old Johannesburg Planetarium at Wits will likely come to mind.

For decades, it has been the place where school trips, families, and starry-eyed dreamers gathered to explore the universe.

Now, this beloved landmark has entered a new era. The historic planetarium has been given a R90 million makeover and has transformed into the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome (WAADD).

The university describes it as “a cutting-edge space that promises to take storytelling, science, technology, AI and the magic of the cosmos to the next level.”

The Wits Planetarium’s history dates back to 1956 when Johannesburg’s 70th-anniversary celebrations inspired a plan to buy and house a Zeiss projector.

Since a new projector was unavailable in time, the city purchased and modernised a 1930s Zeiss MkIII from Hamburg, Germany. It projected approximately 8,000 stars as they appeared in the sky.

After renovations, the projector was installed at Wits University, and construction began in 1959.

On 12 October 1960, Africa’s first full-sized planetarium and the second in the Southern Hemisphere, opened to the public.

“For the past 64 years, the Planetarium has entertained, inspired and educated millions of visitors from Gauteng and beyond,” said Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University.

“I visited the old Planetarium in 1981. It left a huge and indelible mark on me, and I believe it played a key role in igniting a scientific spark that led to me becoming a nuclear physicist,” he added.

The upgrade

Several factors drove the transition from the old Johannesburg Planetarium at Wits to the Digital Dome.

Constant Volschenk, who first got a job in the Planetarium in the early 90s after being inspired during a school trip he had in the 80s, explained that it was designed to show only stars using an analogue projector.

This system became outdated, making it difficult to engage today’s youth. Additionally, maintaining the 1930s analogue system was becoming unsustainable.

The search for a new digital system began 10 to 15 years before the conversion when the planetarium staff started exploring modernisation. Eventually, a decision was made to go digital.

Anglo American partnered with the University in 2022 to support the R90 million refurbishment, expansion, and digitalisation of the then 62-year-old Johannesburg Planetarium.

“I don’t think I can overstate just how significant this new Digital Dome is,” said Volschenk.

The upgrades included the installation of 10 high-resolution projectors and the implementation of cutting-edge surround-sound technology.

Luxury auditorium seating was added, and a reconfigurable seminar room, offices and meeting space was created to facilitate collaboration, seminars, and workshops.

Dr Moumita Aich, astrophysicist and head of the WAADD, said that although it falls under the Department of Physics, the digital upgrade allows for multidisciplinary content beyond just astronomy.

She explained that WAADD’s steering committee consists of wide-ranging interdisciplinary experts “because you honestly need ideas from everyone”.

Since you can generate any content on the dome, the term “planetarium” is no longer adequate because the dome’s function has expanded significantly.

It is an interdisciplinary hub that can integrate climate modelling, artificial intelligence, digital arts and more.

So, visitors, students, and researchers will enjoy an immersive experience and feel as if they are part of the show.

It includes gliding through the middle of the International Space Station or following a herd of wildebeest through the migrations in the Serengeti.

For example, he explained that the digital system uses real scientific data to fly to planets and display phenomena like comets, which are significantly more dynamic than static graphic artist impressions.

The University is looking to generate its own content in the future to diversify its offerings.

“Through the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, we hope to continue inspiring people from various disciplines, including those working in climate modelling, artificial intelligence and the digital arts,” said Vilakazi.

Volschenk joked that those with fond memories of the old planetarium can be assured that they replaced the “terrible chairs” with comfortable ones.

Currently, the WAADD features two shows for the public, with many more in the pipeline.

Show schedules and booking information are available via Webtickets, and more shows, including live ones, will be announced soon.

Wits Anglo American Digital Dome Video

Wits Anglo American Digital Dome photos