A 23-foot Earth floats free inside a NYC cathedral until Oct. 8

A 23-foot model of Earth goes on view Friday, Sept. 18, suspended inside the nave of North America’s largest cathedral, and it stays up through Thursday, Oct. 8. Admission is free.

The piece, called Gaia, is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram. Its surface carries highly detailed NASA imagery of the planet, and the sphere hangs in midair and turns slowly, so people standing below see the globe from every angle. The effect is closer to an astronaut’s view than to anything on a gallery wall.

Why the cathedral is showing Gaia this fall

The timing is deliberate. The cathedral is hosting the installation to honor the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi, who is known for his closeness to nature and the environment. The artwork’s focus on the beauty and fragility of the natural world lines up with that tribute.

Hanging the planet inside a historic religious space turns the nave into something closer to an immersive galactic room. Visitors step off busy streets and get a quiet, unobstructed look at the world from the floor, with the scale of the sphere doing most of the work.

How to see the floating Earth for free

An opening reception runs Friday, Sept. 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. That first evening will likely be the busiest of the run, though anyone who misses it has several more weeks to get under the globe.

Visitors can RSVP free in advance to secure a spot beneath the rotating planet. The installation comes down Thursday, Oct. 8.