MOSI’s Digital Dome Theatre to debut April 1

Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) is set to unveil its new Digital Dome Theatre April 1, following a comprehensive two-month testing and configuration period. This development positions MOSI as the host of the nation’s second-largest planetarium, offering an enhanced platform for science education and immersive experiences. ​

The Digital Dome Theatre, housed within MOSI’s eight-story blue dome building on E. Fowler Avenue, features a 10,000-square-foot, 360 degree curved NanoSeam screen. The installation process for the massive metal screen spanned 13 weeks. In January, 10 state-of-the-art Christie digital projectors were installed, followed by the integration of advanced lighting systems, seating arrangements and the Digistar 7 control system.

The previous iteration of the theater, which projected IMAX 70mm film, closed in 2017. 

The theater will offer multiple daily showtimes. Programming includes live tours of the night sky conducted by MOSI’s space experts, and immersive 360-degree films that explore various scientific phenomena, such as the solar system and ancient civilizations.

Inside the 360-degree Digital Dome Theatre.

“We can take you anywhere in the night sky, anywhere throughout history,” CEO John Graydon Smith told the Catalyst in a December interview. “That’s really the beauty of this new system, and the infrastructure we inherited here. Rather than have to build a custom building – designing the shirt around the button, as the saying goes – what we’re able to do is plug this new technology into this building. Knowing that in 10 years, if the technology changes again, we can keep up with the times.”

Prior to the public opening, the theater will host its inaugural field trip for students from Hillsborough County Public Schools. “What we’re doing now,” Smith said, “is education that’s also very entertaining.

“We have the opportunity, and the ability, to still do non-educational programming, but at the core of this digital dome theater is education for kids in the greater Tampa Bay area and beyond.”

The Digital Dome Theatre now also serves as the new home for MOSI’s Saunders Planetarium. The upgraded 8K projection technology offers a significantly sharper, brighter, and more immersive experience compared to the previous film-based system that ceased operations in 2017. The new facility drastically increases the planetarium’s capacity from 46 to over 300 guests.   

The renovation was funded through a combination of foundation, private and community support, with significant contributions from the Saunders Foundation, Raymond James Financial and Hillsborough County. ​

A VIP grand opening event, featuring Clearwater native and astronaut Nicole Stott, is scheduled for Oct. 31. 

Paid admission to MOSI includes one show, with additional shows available for $5 each.