The Wits Digital Dome is not just a tool for astronomy, but it is a technological hub that bridges different disciplines through immersive education.
Walking into the Digital Dome, you are immersed in lights from the astronomical projection covering the dome’s ceiling. Its cutting-edge technology brings an out-of-world experience which blends research and education seamlessly.
A New Era
The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome was originally known as the Johannesburg Planetarium and has been around since 1960. It was a platform for astronomy that allowed visitors to view stars, planets, and constellations through its then state of the art technology. Some decades later, a much-needed upgrade was needed. Under the leadership of Dr Moutima Aich, the planetarium stepped into the 21st century and stands as the largest digital dome in South Africa and the second largest in Africa.
“Most of the planetariums have gone digital around the world. So, we also wanted to do that and not just that. We wanted to expand the space, so we’ve expanded the office space and the event space,” said Aich. She added that the expansion was also for them to “make our own content” and for homegrown stories to be told.
Beyond Astronomy
Although the Digital Dome remains a hub for astronomy education, its new facilities allow for different faculties to use it. One of them includes people from Digital Arts who have been “involved heavily in creating content for the dome,” says Aich. “People who have come here, they’re from medical science background. They also want to do some visualizations on the Dome. And again, they talk to the digital arts for that. So that’s how we are bringing in the different disciplines together,” she said.
The Digital Dome will also enhance student learning and education. It continues to host immersive and entertaining astronomy shows for children. “It’s an animated show, but it is about rockets and propulsion and things like that. So, you still come and learn while you enjoy. So, it does help students in general,” said Dr Aich.
The dome is not limited to children as university students can also use it as a tool for learning, particularly postgraduate students. This includes Honours, Msc or PHD projects on the Dome’s software or data visualization.
What’s Next
The Dome officially opened its doors to the public on 1 February 2025 where it continues to host immersive shows that can bring people together for an unforgettable experience. People can book shows online on Webtickets.
FEATURED IMAGE: Projection of the periodic table in the Digital Dome. Photo: Siyanda Mthethwa.
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