The large illuminated sphere lowered in New York City’s New Year’s Eve celebration is called the Times Square Ball.
The tradition began in 1907, when a lighted ball was lowered from the flagpole at One Times Square. The design was inspired by time balls, visual signals once used at ports and observatories to help ships and communities set accurate clocks.
The modern ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and illuminated by LEDs. Its design has changed several times as materials, lighting technology, and the size of the public celebration have developed. The current ball is far larger than the original wooden-and-iron ball used in 1907.
The ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time and reaches the base of the pole at midnight. It is sometimes confused with the building itself, but “Times Square Ball” is the name of the object lowered during the ceremony.