Johannesburg Planetarium
The Johannesburg Planetarium’s website cites its history as beginning in 1956 when a festival committee was tasked with finding ways to celebrate Johannesburg’s 70th birthday. The idea to build the first full-sized planetarium in Africa was adopted with enthusiasm and fundraising began immediately. Avoiding delay in procuring a projector, a 26-year-old existing Zeiss was located and bought from the Hamburg Planetarium in Germany.
While the instrument was being upgraded and modernised in its home country, the Johannesburg City Council sold it to the University of the Witwatersrand and construction of the planetarium building on university property began in 1959. Doors were opened to the public in 1960 and since then visitors have been able to marvel at the heavens and learn more about their other phenomena, including stars, planets, comets, nebulae, constellations and galaxies.
A half moon. Photo courtesy Axel Bührmann
The planetarium hosts about 70 000 visitors per year. Most of these are groups of schoolchildren who come from far afield to view age-appropriate shows, and to learn about constellations based on star signs and gain an understanding of the movement of the moon in relation to the Earth through high-tech satellite images and telescopic views. The sound of chattering, excited children is very common in the building.
The Braamfontein planetarium is owned by the University of the Witwatersrand but is run as a joint project with the City of Johannesburg. Pure astronomy is not offered at the university so the planetarium provides academic support to students and is used by astronomers at other centres. The importance of astronomy is well recognised and young people are being encouraged to look at the possibility of a career in this field.
The programmes on offer are varied and seasonal and apply to current conditions in Johannesburg’s night skies. They include regular shows every day of the week except Sundays, lecture series, night events, school shows and family shows. A visit to the planetarium provides visitors with perspective; there is little doubt that you will step out into the sunshine feeling dwarfed and inspired by the awesome nature of the universe.
Open: Every day except Sunday, check for show times
Cost: Children, students R20 and adults R32