The Celestial Ceiling of Grand Central Terminal: A Masterpiece of Art and Astronomy

The Main Concourse Ceiling

The ceiling of Grand Central Terminal's Main Concourse in New York City is a gold-leaf mural by French artist Paul Helleu. It depicts the night sky as seen from New York, featuring:

• 2,500 hand-painted stars (each made of gold leaf).
• Zodiac constellations (rendered in reverse, as if viewed from outside the celestial sphere).
• Planets (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn).

The mural was restored in the 1990s after decades of grime obscured it. It remains one of the terminal's most beloved architectural features.