Why Luxor Sky Beam Attracts Millions of People

December 7, 2019August 22, 2019 Mamta Sharma

Started during the period in the early 90s when Las Vegas marketed itself more to families, Luxor became the tallest casino on the strip. Although this title has been stripped of, the Luxor continues to run as a successful casino.

It is because they’ve some of the cheapest rooms that you can find on the strip, or may be due to there is something special at the top of this pyramid. Yes, I am talking about the Sky Beam, but now it has become lot more than just a part of the décor.

It’s developed a specific ecosystem

Due to the extreme light, Sky Beam has drawn plenty of moths and other bugs to the light including the bats. There are plenty of bats lazily eating the vast quantities of bugs in the air that many tourists end up mistaking them for UFOs.

Yes, the bats attracted owls. So, with so many bats in one place, owls have also come on the Sky Beam, getting their own feast and adding even more UFO speculation when they are caught in the light.

In a way, Luxor has developed its very own ecosystem, which has become an attraction for many tourists in Vegas .

Brightness of the Light

It throws a 42.3 billion candela tunnel of light. You can see it from 275 miles away on a clear night. The light is not powered by a single lamp, instead it has 39 xenon lights with 7,000 watt bulbs that you cannot get at your local store. The beams from these multiple lamps are then clubbed through a combination of mirrors to create the single Sky Beam.

Considering the heat for the lamps and mirrors, staff members cannot do any kind of maintenance on the setup while the system is on. The temperature reaches 500 degrees Fahrenheit just above the surface of the lamp, while the workers’ platform 25 feet above the lights reaches 300 degrees when the lights are on.

A Lighthouse for Pilots

Today aeronautical equipment is so advanced that pilots do have to do very little manual navigation. But often, aviation requires pilots to figure out for themselves their position, which is why they use literal landmarks to find their way.

The most popular navigation tool throughout the southwest of the United States is the Sky Beam.

Because it’s visible from so far away, pilots use the light as a means of orientation. It is equally a fun to point out to passengers flying in the area at night.

What is the Cost to Run the Sky Beam?

It costs $1 million per year way back in 1993 to the hotel to keep the massive light on. But with the Luxor now only using half the lights, they’re saving some energy as well as money.

Although the exact energy or money cost is not very clear, the last numbers available were that the Sky Beam costs $51 per hour to run. The shorter nights are cheaper.