New York City's Times Square Ball takes 60 seconds to descend at midnight.
The modern descent begins at 11:59 p.m. on December 31 and ends at midnight, marking the start of January 1. The ball travels down a pole atop One Times Square, where the lowering has become the central visual moment of the annual celebration.
The first New Year's Eve ball in Times Square was lowered in 1907, after fireworks had been prohibited at the celebration site. The original ball was made of iron and wood and was much smaller than later versions. Today, the illuminated ball is a large geodesic sphere covered with Waterford crystal panels and LED lighting.
The ball drop is often confused with the entire countdown, but the descent itself lasts one minute. The event is broadcast internationally and is accompanied by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” after midnight.