A Year to BTechnical: -- Bloemfontein's new digital planetarium --

So, I've heard a lot about the new Bloemfontein Planetarium and how amazing their digital software is, so I decided to do some digging and this is what I found out...

For those of you who aren't aware, Central South Africa is becoming known as the astronomical heartland of the country. There’s SALT, the Southern African Large Telescope, in Sutherland; the development of the incredible Square Kilometre Array, or SKA, near Carnarvon; and now the city of Bloemfontein is going to have the first digital planetarium in sub-Saharan Africa in a domed structure in the Lamont-Hussey Observatory on Naval Hill!!

SALT (South African Large Telescope) in Sutherland, Western Cape

Cross section through the SALT showing the telescope
inside the observatory

SKA (Square Kilometer Array), the largest radio telescope
in the world, in Carnarvan, Northern Cape.

The digital dome recently fitted on to the existing observatory structure is a 12m seamless aluminium screen complemented by a powerful surround-sound system and multiple data projectors, together offering a multidimensional experience of the digital universe. It will be operated by the UFS (University of the Free State), which is responsible for developing the concept and for implementing the project in the first place.

Construction process of Bloem Planetarium's dome

Completed renovations on Naval Hill Planetarium

Right and responsibility to set up the planetarium was granted to them by one of the other partners in the development, namely the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality. The project is part of the overall upgrading of Naval Hill. Other partners involved include the Free State department of economic development, tourism and environmental affairs, which is also a founding partner, and the national Department of Science and Technology, as well as a number of private sector founders.