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In the age of smartphones, tablet computers, Facebook and Twitter, tracking Santa has gone high-tech.
Every year, NORAD follows Santa Claus as he makes his trek around the globe, alerting children all over the world to his progress. Now, kids of all ages can follow along online or using mobile apps available in the Apple App Store or the Android Market.
Families can track Santa in Google Earth, or call 1-800-HI-NORAD (1-877 446-6723) to talk with a volunteer who will tell kids where Santa is on his trip.
NORAD Tracks Santa also has a Facebook page and Twitter stream to keep kids around the world up to date on Santa’s progress, not to mention a YouTube channel chock full of videos of his Dec. 24 adventures.
How do they do it?
Just how does NORAD keep track of Santa’s annual trip ‘round the world?
According to the NORAD Tracks Santa website, “NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa cams and fighter jets.” It all starts with NORAD’s North Warning System radar, made up of 47 installations along the northern border of North America.
“On December 24th, NORAD monitors the radar systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole,” the website explains.
“The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, we use our second detection system. Satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.”
Since 1998, NORAD has also been using a “Santa cam network” to use “ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras” positioned around the world to capture images and videos of Santa and his eight tiny reindeer as they make their journey around the world.
Once all the data is collected on Dec. 24, it’s pushed into Google Maps and Google Earth so that families all over the world can follow Santa Claus.
A long tradition
NORAD has been tracking Santa since 1955, when a Colorado Springs-based Sears Roebuck & Co. ad for children to call Santa accidentally misprinted the telephone number. Instead of reaching Santa, kids were put through to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) commander-in-chief’s operations hotline.
“The Director of Operations at the time, Col. Harry Shoup, had his staff check the radar for indications of Santa making his way south from the North Pole. Children who called were given updates on his location, and a tradition was born,” according to the NORAD Tracks Santa site.
In 1958, Canada and the United States created a dual air defense command for North America, known as the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD. Since then, NORAD has carried on the tradition of tracking Santa.
