The Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop lasts 60 seconds.
The illuminated ball begins its descent at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 31 and reaches the base of its flagpole exactly at midnight. The one-minute descent is designed to create a visible countdown for the crowd gathered in Times Square and for viewers watching the ceremony worldwide.
The tradition began in 1907, when a ball made of iron and wood, decorated with electric lights, was lowered from the flagpole atop One Times Square. The first ball was about five feet in diameter and weighed roughly 700 pounds. The event replaced fireworks, which had become impractical in the crowded district.
The modern Ball is much larger and brighter than its predecessor. A common mix-up is confusing the ball's one-minute descent with the broader televised countdown, which includes performances and other ceremonies before midnight.