MOSI, Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry, has announced the opening of its Digital Dome Theatre, the new home of the Saunders Planetarium.
MOSI admission covers one show in the theatre. The experience starts with a live tour of the night sky on the massive 10,000-square-foot screen, guided by a MOSI astronomer. This is followed by a 30-minute 360-degree film that immerses guests in science, transporting them through outer space, to the ancient past, and more.
Expanding MOSI’s Saunders Planetarium
Previously, MOSI’s planetarium could accommodate only 46 people. By moving to the Digital Dome Theatre, which has over 330 seats, the number of guests and field trip students who can be amazed and inspired each day has dramatically expanded.
The upgraded 8K image technology offers significantly sharper, brighter, and more immersive visuals than the film technology used inside the dome until 2017. These enhancements were made possible through a collaboration of foundation, private, and community support.
MOSI’s Digital Dome Theatre welcomed its inaugural field trip for students from Hillsborough County Public Schools on Monday, coinciding with a grand opening ceremony attended by MOSI CEO John Graydon Smith, the mayor of Temple Terrace Andy Ross, Hillsborough Schools chief academic officer Colleen Faucett, and retired NASA astronaut Nicole Stott.
“We have, right now, future astronauts, right here in Tampa Bay. And not just astronauts, but designers, and engineers, and nurses, and artists—all waiting to discover what’s possible for them. And I’m so excited that we can do that here in this amazing space,” said Stott, who grew up in Clearwater.
In the evening, Stott hosted a VIP event at the theatre. The documentary Space for Art showcased Stott’s journey since retiring from NASA after two spaceflights, highlighting her current role as the leader of the Space for Art Foundation. For a limited time, artwork by astronauts and others that explores the relationship between space and art is on display in MOSI’s Arc Gallery.
State-of-the-art projection
Erecting the massive metal NanoSeam screen took 13 weeks in fall 2024, and crews installed 10 state-of-the-art Christie digital projectors in January 2025. Workers added lighting, configured seating, and tested the cutting-edge Digistar control system over the remaining two months before opening on 1 April 2025.
The diameter of the screen is 25 meters, and it covers an approximate area of 981 square meters. 8K images are created by 10 new Christie digital projectors, powered by an Evans & Sutherland Digistar 7 control system with audio from custom Bowen speakers
“This project solidifies the fact that MOSI is here as an anchor in Tampa’s Uptown region. We’re proud to be the first of many transformational projects happening here in this neighborhood,” said Graydon Smith.
Last year, MOSI opened an interactive experience where young guests can fly real drones. The new attraction, Flight Club Drone Zone, is a permanent addition that invites visitors to control real drones while completing challenges, racing each other, and learning more about the technology.
