The Wits Anglo American Digital Dome: All About the New Johannesburg Planetarium

A new state-of-the-art Wits Anglo American Digital Dome just opened on 1 February 2025 after undergoing major refurbishments. It will open to the public on 1 February 2025. Formerly known as the Johannesburg Planetarium, the new space anticipates to forever change how South Africans teach, research, and engage with science, technology, business, sport, the humanities and the arts, in a multidisciplinary facility. Here’s all you need to know about the digital art destination.

What’s new at the Digital Dome

The new Wits Anglo Digital Dome offers a 360° immersive experience for visitors of all ages, with a variety of weekly shows for young and old. It also serves as a modern teaching venue and a collaborative research space where scientists and students can visualise their work – be it in big data, astrophysics, the digital arts, artificial medicine, microbiology, or precision medicine.

Initially completed in 1960, the old Planetarium was the first full sized Planetarium in Africa. The new Digital Dome is the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere, made possible through an investment of R90 million from Anglo American and Wits University.

“We have created a high-tech 360 immersive experience,” says Dr Moumita Aich, the Head of the Wits Anglo American Digital Dome. “Visitors, students and researchers will enjoy an immersive experience and will feel as if they are part of the shows – whether they are gliding through the middle of the International Space Station or following a herd of wildebeest through the migrations in the Serengeti. These shows aim to entertain people of all ages, with different interests, using the latest technology – the possibilities are infinite.” Below are some of the highlights:

The original Zeiss projector has been replaced by 10 brand new digital projectors to render an 8k full dome resolution. Each projector has its own image generator, which is controlled by a master computer
The sound in the Digital Dome has also been upgraded to an 8.2 audio system
The refurbished facility includes the new digital projection and sound systems and auditorium seating, with the possible future creation of a Science and Technology Exploratorium
A new north wing expansion houses operational offices, exhibition areas, and specialised spaces for Digital Dome show planning and design

How to book tickets + the lineup of public shows

See the full linueup of themed shows at the Digital Dome here. Note that kids under the age of 5 are not permitted at the venue.

Cost: R40pp for kids and pensioners, R70pp for adults. Book via Webtickets. See the full lineup of public shows here

When: Tuesday to Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Monday
Where: Digital Dome, East Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Yale Rd, Braamfontein, Johannesburg

Website: digitaldome.wits.ac.za
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 011 717 1390
Facebook: @WitsPlanetarium
Instagram: @wits__university