The Planetarium / Cape Town

The Cape Town Planetarium and Digital Dome is housed in the South African Iziko Museum building in the heart of the city centre. It is the most advanced digital planetarium on the African continent. It is not only used for edutainment purposes but also serves actual scientific research to optimize South Africa’s eResearch and data visualization capacity.

But the fun happens from Tuesday to Sunday when the Iziko Planetarium and Digital Dome is open to the public and makes virtual voyages of the universe possible. In various shows kids of all ages can get an unparalleled experience of animation and 360◦ cinema.  

There are currently five different shows to choose from. The morning shows are most suitable for the little ones, while the afternoon shows are astronomical adventures for space and science enthusiasts.

Get a sneak preview of each show on their website. We have linked them to the according page below and you will easily be directed to the short introduction video of each show.

Show 1: To Space and Back (Tuesday and Thursday 14:00)

To Space & Back takes audiences on an incredible journey from the far reaches of our known universe to our own planet. Learn about the extraordinary story of human ingenuity and incredible engineering, describing how the technology that transports us through space is paving the way for the devices and apps we use every day.

Show 2: Passport to the Universe (Wednesday and Friday 14:00)

Passport to the Universe explores humanity’s place in the cosmos, bringing audiences on an unforgettable journey from Earth all the way to the edge of the observable universe. In this show you can fly beneath the rings of Saturn, float through the heart of the Orion Nebula, and plunge into a black hole during this captivating introduction to cosmology.

Show 3: Accidental Astronauts (Saturday and Sunday 10:30)

In this show your little ones can follow the adventures of Sy and Annie and their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into space! Together, they explore the Earth, Sun and Moon system with a wise-cracking starship computer. The trio observes an asteroid as it crashes into the Moon, they bounce along on the lunar surface and they get up close and personal with a solar storm.

Show 4: Phantom of the Universe (Saturday and Sunday 12:00)

“Phantom of the Universe” is a new planetarium show that showcases an exciting exploration of dark matter, from the Big Bang to its anticipated discovery at the Large Hadron Collider. The show is offered to planetariums worldwide free of charge. It is currently in 600 planetariums in 67 countries (and 42 American states) and is available in 22 languages.

The show reveals the first hints of its existence through the eyes of Fritz Zwicky, the scientist who coined the term “dark matter.” It describes the astral choreography witnessed by Vera Rubin in the Andromeda galaxy and then plummets deep underground to see the most sensitive dark matter detector on Earth, housed in a former gold mine.

Show 5: Infinity Express (Saturday and Sunday 13:30)

Join the quest to understand the universe by going on an exciting journey of discovery, from the search of the solar system to the mapping of the universe.

Our Experience

This is a very unique experience for the kids and an absolutely amazing way to explore and learn about our universe. Our son even went there with his class on a school outing and he absolutely loved it. It’s low budget too and definitely worth a visit.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Checklist

  • Opening Times: Closed on Monday, Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 – 14:30
  • Age Group: 2 – 99
  • Rates: Adults = R60, Children = R30, Pensioners/Students = R30
  • Baby Changing Facilities: No
  • Kids Menu: n/a
  • Price Category: Low
  • Fun Factor: 5/5
  • Free WIFI: No

Website

https://www.iziko.org.za/museums/planetarium/
Phone: +27 (0) 21 481 3800

Find us online:

1 thought on “The Planetarium / Cape Town”

  1. What are the best programmes for kids on primary and early high school to keep them interested, please assist I would like to bring my kids to the planetarium but would like to know how to go about booking or are walk ins welcome

    Reply

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