2. Atlas’ sphere points toward the North Star
Atlas is depicted carrying the celestial vault or an armillary sphere on his shoulders. This type of sphere depicts the location of various celestial bodies. The north-south axis of this specific sphere on his shoulders points toward the North Star’s position relative to New York City.
The statue stands on one muscular leg atop a stone pedestal, whose corner faces Fifth Avenue. Behind the sculpture, you can gaze up through the sphere to the cloud-scraping top of 45 Rockefeller Plaza or to the glowing gold lobby of the International Building directly behind. Standing behind the sculpture looking out towards Fifth Avenue, the sphere frames a view of Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.