At New York City’s Times Square New Year’s Eve celebration, the illuminated ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m.
The Times Square Ball drops for 60 seconds, reaching the bottom of its pole exactly at midnight. The event is one of the world’s most widely recognized New Year’s Eve broadcasts and takes place at One Times Square in Manhattan.
The first ball was used for the 1907 celebration, when it was made of iron and wood and illuminated with electric lights. The current ball is a geodesic sphere covered with Waterford Crystal panels and LED lighting, although its design and size have changed several times.
The descent is often mistaken for an event that starts at midnight. In fact, midnight is the ending point of the drop, marking the transition into 1 January in New York’s Eastern Time Zone. The celebration also includes musical performances and crowds gathered in the surrounding streets.