Over 1 million people gather in Times Square every year to watch the New Year’s Eve Ball drop. Over one billion people watch the NYC event from their TVs around the globe. Last night, I was invited to get up close and personal with the New Year’s Eve Ball, to see it like regular people can – from underneath it and touch it.

I’ve never braved the cold in to stand in Times Square for six-plus hours just to watch the Ball drop. Now that I’ve seen it with my own two eyes, up close, touched it, despite the torrential rain coming down last night, I might not have to.

You can read all about the Ball and its fascinating 102 years of evolution, how it can emit 16 million colors and has 2,688 Waterford crystals and 32,256 LEDs over at DVICE as well as see more photos (written my me) if you want, but here’s a video (also available on Xbox Live via the Syfy video app).

^ These are the Waterford Crystals on the 2002 New Year’s Eve Ball. In memory of all the victims lost in the 9/11 attacks, the triangles had a country engraved for where the innocent were lost. Here is Hong Kong.

^ The Ball all lit up in blue (my favorite color).

^ A closer view of the ball’s Waterford Crystals when lit up in blue.

^ Here the ball is green.

^ To close off, here’s a photo of yours truly about to control the world. Actually, it’s the switch that the Mayor and his posse will press to make the Ball descend and start the countdown. Filter effects were applied with CameraBag 2 (public beta right now), which is an Instagram and Hipstamatic-like app for desktops.

Special Thanks to Alan Danzis and Elizabeth Lyons of Ketchum Social Media and Waterford Crystal for inviting me to see this once in a lifetime event.