The NYE Ball Drop

The New Years Eve ball drop in Times Square has been around for over 100 years. While billions of people around the world witness the ball's decent every year, few realize the amount of work, time, and thought that goes into creating it. With modern technology through history, the ball has gotten better and brighter.

Fun Historical Facts About the New Years Ball:

•The first ball was actually made out of iron and wood, weighing 400 pounds.
•Next, a 700-pound iron ball that lasted until the 1950s.
•An aluminum ball remained until 1999.
•Next came the Millennium Ball, a rhinestone bedazzled glitter ball lit by halogen lamps.
•It wasn't until 2007 that they experimented with LED technology before converting to a full LED ball in 2008.

After switching to the full LED ball, the ball gained 90 percent efficiency, and quadrupled the brightness.

The New Year’s Eve Ball is nearly 6 tons (11,875 pounds to be exact) and 12 feet in diameter. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, and is the largest crystal ball in existence with 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles varying in size. The Ball is illuminated by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.

For this past New Years (2013), 288 of the Waterford Crystal triangles introduced the new "Let There Be Peace" design of a dove with wings spread symbolizing a message of peace; engraving of people holding hands around the world.

A team of about 6 people operate and take care of the ball year round. Now completely computer controlled, they don’t need that many people to guide the ball as it comes down.

Maintaining the ball requires careful upkeep. To prevent spotting, a quarter cup of ammonia with lemon detergent is used, rising thoroughly and air-drying on a rack.

Next year when you see the ball drop, think of all that goes into creating the quick 60 second count down!