Sutherland Planetarium is located in the centre of Sutherland en route to the Southern African Large Telescope. It is the latest and only privately owned Digital Planetarium in South Africa. The planetarium is equipped with a Fulldome Pro DX4 system using a single revolutionary Fulldome Pro media server to power four Full HD Short Throw projectors. The Projection dome is fitted with a Dolby Atmos 7.1 sound system moving three-dimensional (3D) sound affects around the theatre with astonishing realism. The 30-seater Planetarium is open 7 days a week showcasing a wide range of 3-D Fulldome films to ensure educational entertainment for the whole family. The new locally produced fulldome film (Rising Star) will be showcased from 3 November. 

Sutherland Planetarium has been the dream of local farmer and astronomer, Nicol van der Merwe. Gazing up at the night skies as a small boy in South Africa’s Karoo desert, the clarity and mystery of the stars captivated Nicol’s imagination. When Nicol grew up, he passed his love of Africa’s skies to his son Nico too.

With so many people coming to see the South Africa Large Telescope (SALT) at the renowned South African Astronomical Observatory facilities just outside Sutherland, Nicol and Nico came up with the idea of building a digital planetarium in Sutherland. Nico, an engineer, designed the buildings to best display the latest Fulldome requirements, while Nicol got hands on with construction.

With support from local Sutherlanders, the van der Merwe family built the new Sutherland Planetarium in record time.

Sutherland Planetarium officially opened on 13 June 2018 and hopes to introduce many people to the wonders of deep space, as well as attract more visitors to explore Sutherland and its beautiful surrounds. 

​Still farming at Blesfontein Farm just outside Sutherland, the van der Merwe family are very involved with the planetarium and also offer guests staying in Blesfontein’s self-catering farm accommodation the opportunity to enjoy informative stargazing evenings outside using their telescopes to find constellations, galaxies and planets in Sutherland’s skies.

On the 14th of June 2019 the Sutherland Planetarium opened a new addition to the Planetarium family. The new Astro Amphitheatre, equipped with 2 powerful telescopes offers exquisite night time star gazing opportunity. We joined hands with Willem Prins to be able to offer the biggest privately owned telescope star viewing in Sutherland.