The NYE Ball is actually a geodesic sphere and is 12 feet in diameter and weighs 11,875 pounds. It is covered in 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles, of which 288 change each year according to the year’s theme. The remaining 2,112 crystal triangles showcase the Gift of Imagination design that has a series of intricate wedge cuts that are mirrored reflections of each other to inspire our imagination.  The crystal triangles are bolted to 672 LED modules that are attached to the aluminum frame.

The first New Year’s Eve Ball was lowered atop One Times Square in 1907 and there have been seven versions of the ball. The first ball was made of iron and wood, weighed 700 pounds, and was covered with 100 light bulbs. The current version was unveiled in 2008 and sparkles atop One Times Square year round.

This post was originally published in 2015.