New York Times square LED crystal ball meets 2008

In December 30th, a huge "time ball" in New York, the United States conducted a light test. Time ball will be placed in Times Square, New York, to welcome the new year. Xinhua News Agency / Reuters

The New York Times held annually across the Plaza activities all over the world, new year's Eve the last moment a crystal ball drop is the focus of attention. This year on the square of the crystal ball replaced with energy-saving lamps, the organizers respond to environmental protection, celebrating the one hundred anniversary of the traditional activities.

According to the China Times reported that the new crystal ball, weighing about 500 kg, about 1.8 meters in diameter, using a (LED), power consumption is only equivalent to 10 toasters. Light emitting diodes are small in size and power saving, but the brightness is more than two times that of the previous bulbs, and can produce up to 16 million colors.

The New York Times held for the first time in New Year's Eve new year square ball orientation activities in 1907, the year from the falling ball with iron and wood material production, weighing 317.5 kg, a diameter of 1.5 meters, but only 100 25 watt light bulbs.

Over a century, the ball is also designed to keep pace with the times, in 1999 the fifth degree change, made of crystal ball on New Year's Eve to greet the arrival of the millennium. In January 2008, the $1 million 100 thousand crystal ball from 23.5 meters flagpole fell, led 672 pieces of its crystal triangular plate, showing like kaleidoscope of colors and patterns of the myriads of changes, 9567 LEDs will make the illumination increased to 625000 lumens.

Source: China times