My colleague James S. Russell writes that the changes are likely to make the revamped observatory a “must-see even for jaded natives.”

“It is, simply, a sight unmatched,” Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory, said on Thursday as he stood next to a window pane on the 102nd-floor observatory.

“We are the pin on the map that holds this city together,” he added. “There’s a lot of meaning here. The height isn’t the marker; it’s about the iconic status of this place.”

The perch on 102nd floor will offer groups of about 55 people a chance to view New York from what Mr. Ghazi said was the highest 360-degree panorama in the city.

The observatory is completely transparent. Those who dare can look directly down to the streets below.

But really, the best views are straight ahead. Observers can see each of the boroughs and the surrounding areas.

“There has never been a better time to give Gotham a fresh look,” Mr. Russell wrote.

Here’s your chance.