World’s largest LED screen transforms the Las Vegas skyline

To create Sphere, centuries old mathematical formulas and 22^nd Century engineering and technology were utilised.

To start off with, Sphere’s LED panels are so bright, you can see them from space. The exterior, called the Exosphere, consists of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks, spaced eight inches apart. Each puck contains 48 individual LED diodes, with each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colours.

Also, you can fit the entire Statue of Liberty inside.

Many parts of Sphere were built in virtual reality. The engineers and architects used the Finite Element Method to transform equations into computer models of key structures across the venue. This way, the strength and functionality could be tested before it existed in real life.

Stereographic Projection helps to explain how immersive imagery works at Sphere. Custom cameras take cues from this formula to capture ultra-wide imagery that fits seamlessly onto Sphere’s curved LED screen – while mirroring the science of how the human eye sees the real world around it.

Using the hidden math of the Shannon Hartley Theorem, Sphere was able to create an ultra-fast wireless environment so that 10,000 people can interact with the screen simultaneously from any seat.

The Helmholtz Equation is used to calculate how 3D sound travels through Sphere. Behind the LED media plane, there are 168,000 speakers that use this math to create realistic, 360 audio environments leveraging a new sonic technology known as ‘wave field synthesis.’

The Wave Equation is used to program and control Sphere’s infrasound seating and audio systems – enabling it to simulate a range of ultra-sensory effects, from the swell of the tide to a total shift in gravity.

As part of a special Fourth of July celebration, for the first time ever, Sphere’s LED exterior was completely illuminated. The show started with a welcome – ‘Hello World’ – and was followed by fireworks and stars and stripes animations, before transitioning through a wide array of visual content, from vibrant underwater scenes to performances to vividly-textured lunar surfaces.

Guy Barnett, SVP Brand Strategy and Creative Development, said: “The Exosphere is more than a screen or a billboard – it is living architecture, and unlike anything that exists anywhere in the world. [The] show provided a glimpse of the Exosphere’s captivating power, and the possibilities for artists, partners, and brands to create compelling and impactful stories to connect with audiences in new ways.”

The Fourth of July production was just the beginning for the Exosphere, as it will continue to display creative activations in coordination with major events in Las Vegas, with more content planned throughout the month. Later this year, the Exosphere will be prominently featured as part of Sphere’s opening in September with U2: UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere, as well as during the first Sphere Experience, Postcard from Earth directed by Darren Aronofsky, in October. In November, during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, Sphere will have a prime position along the circuit to showcase the Exosphere to a global audience – in-person and on TV – as well as significant exposure through planned takeovers of the Exosphere for race-related content, activations, and advertising. Eventually, the Exosphere will display a wide range of artistic and branded content daily, from rituals such as sunrise and sunset, to impactful brand campaigns, to delightful moments running at set times.