After nearly a year of renovation, the lights in the ceiling constellation inside Grand Central Terminal are back on.
Fifty-nine of the brightest stars in the winter sky, such as Castor and Pollux in Gemini and Rigel in Orion, were turned on Monday now that MTA Metro-North Railroad, steward of the Terminal, has completed installation of new fixtures.
The 59 lights, representing stars in the galaxy, were first installed in 1913.
The original 10-watt incandescent bulbs were replaced by fiber optic lighting in 1997.
That system has now been replaced with LEDs, which the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says uses 60 percent less electricity and will save $8,000 a year.
Vaulted Sky Ceiling of zodiac constellations painted by French artist Paul Helleu.
When gazing up, 125 feet above the Tennessee pink marble floor, one cannot see all the lighted stars at once. As people walk across the Concourse floor and their vantage point changes, different stars appear, giving a twinkling impression.
Grand Central Terminal: Restored Rejuvinated and still Spectacular (featured 6/16/2007)
courtesy of:
Mitchell Hall, Associate Broker, The Corcoran Group
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