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Naval Hill Planetarium celebrates its first decade

09 November 2023 | Story Prof Matie Hoffman

A decade ago, the former Lamont-Hussey Observatory in Bloemfontein became Southern Africa’s first digital planetarium. Thanks to a collaboration between the University of the Free State (UFS), the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality, the Department of Science and Innovation, and the Free State Province – as well as donations from trusts, foundations, and businesses – the project has grown and thrived.

Many different shapes, one place

The Naval Hill Planetarium was established in the old Lamont-Hussey Observatory. After the closure of the astronomical observatory, the buildings were refurbished and used by PACOFS as the Observatory Theatre. When the site became available again, it was envisioned to turn it into a planetarium. After many years of hard work, the newly refurbished buildings were opened in 2013 as the Naval Hill Planetarium – the first digital planetarium in Africa south of the Sahara.

The decade has seen many changes on the site of the former Lamont-Hussey Observatory, founded by the University of Michigan in 1927 to study double stars through the largest refracting telescope in the Southern Hemisphere. Improvements include the conversion of the old telescope building into a modern digital planetarium, the refurbishment of the structure of the old Lamont telescope and its installation as a display outside the old telescope dome, an observing platform, and a new hall for environmental education. The planetarium and the hall are now known as the Centre for Earth and Space, and developments are continuing.

Partners who have supported the project include the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), the University of Michigan, Old Mutual, Sun International, the Hermann Ohlthaver Trust, ArcelorMittal, the Joan St Leger Lindbergh Charitable Trust, and the CB van Wyk Gesinstrust. In 2022, the Raubex Group and First Technology supported the University of the Free State to upgrade the planetarium’s projection system. Volunteers, including the Friends of the Boyden Observatory and the Naval Hill Planetarium, as well as the Friends of Franklin, have played an invaluable role in supporting and developing this community asset. The planetarium is managed by the Department of Physics at the University of the Free State.

A time to celebrate

During November and December 2023, the planetarium’s first decade will be celebrated with events and special shows, including the South African premier of the AMNH full-dome film, Worlds Beyond Earth. The board of the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) – the largest single optical telescope in the Southern Hemisphere – will attend the premiere. Many international partners are involved in SALT, and AMNH is one of the shareholders in the SALT Foundation. As part of the partnership between the AMNH and SALT, AMNH provides sponsorship for education and outreach efforts in South Africa. The Naval Hill Planetarium benefits from this initiative and receives content for the planetarium in the form of AMNH full-dome films.

In addition to regular school shows, there will be two public shows every Saturday in November and December – one show in English and one in Afrikaans. In December, there will be additional shows for children. Bookings for shows should be done through Computicket, click here to book. The planetarium can accommodate group bookings and functions (enquiries at +2 51 401 9751 or ficky@ufs.ac.za).

News Archive

Student organisation tackles difficult questions in debate

2012-05-12

At the debate were, from the left: Danie Jacobs, Head of the Centre for Business Dynamics, Mhlanganisi Madlongolwana, Nombuso Ndlovu and Prof. JP Landman.
Photo: Leatitia Pienaar

“South Africa is consumed by a monster, namely the lack of critical thinking and dialogue with regard to our problems. Now is the time to make radical changes.” This is according to Nombuso Ndlovu, who spoke at the first debate in a series of Commercio and the UFS Business School.

“Young people are more interested in social gatherings than applying their minds to the problems of South Africa,” she said. Nombuso is the CEO of Commercio.

Commercio is the student organisation in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Two teams, one positive and one negative, debated the topic: Is South Africa’s current economic direction viable?

What emerged from the debate was that our students are well-aware of what is going on in our economy and that people cannot just sit back and expect government to deliver. Every individual has a responsibility. South Africa has a “democratic deficit” society, a “corruption-stricken economy” and “economic activism” is necessary to get the economy on the right path.

Prof. JP Landman, Visiting Professor at the Business School, economic advisor, analyst, columnist and also managing director of the Aardklop Arts Festival, was the expert panel member. He said the critical issue in South Africa is “how do you distribute wealth while keeping things going?”

“It is fantastic that South Africans have developed a collective repulsiveness for corruption.” People must know what underpins society and where aggression comes from.
– Leatitia Pienaar.

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