The Times Square Ball begins its descent 60 seconds before midnight.
The ball starts at the top of its pole at 11:59 p.m. on New Year's Eve and takes one minute to reach the bottom. It arrives at the moment the clock strikes midnight, creating the event's famous final-minute countdown.
The timing links a visible mechanical movement with the official change of date. Millions of people in Times Square and around the world watch the descent, often counting down aloud during the final ten seconds even though the ball has been moving for the full minute.
The descent should not be confused with the length of the entire Times Square program, which includes musical performances and other activities for hours beforehand. The one-minute figure applies specifically to the ball's downward journey. The event was introduced in 1907, while the modern broadcast format developed over many later decades.