Santa’s location Here…It’s Christmas Eve, and Santa Claus is getting ready for his yearly trip from the North Pole to deliver gifts around the world. As part of a long-standing tradition, the North American Aerospace Command (NORAD) will once again track Santa’s journey this Christmas 2024. They use an official map that is updated regularly to show his current location.
NORAD, which is responsible for monitoring and protecting airspaces over the United States and Canada, has been tracking Santa since 1958. Before NORAD, the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) handled the task for three years.
Here’s what you need to know about tracking Santa this Christmas:
How can I track Santa’s location??
You can use the NORAD tracker to see where Santa is on his worldwide journey. However, while the tracker shows his progress, it cannot predict exactly when he will reach your house. According to NORAD, only Santa knows his exact route, so they cannot predict when or where he will arrive next. But history suggests that Santa arrives only when children are asleep!
Typically, NORAD says, Santa reaches homes between 9 p.m. and midnight on Christmas Eve.
How does the Santa tracker work?
The tracker uses radar technology and satellites to track Santa, the same tools NORAD uses to defend North American airspace. NORAD’s radar system, known as the North American Warning System, includes 47 monitoring points across northern Canada and Alaska.
Once NORAD’s radar detects that Santa has taken off from the North Pole, they use satellites (the same ones used to monitor missile launches) to track his movements.
Families can also get updates by calling the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723). NORAD staff will tell you Santa’s exact location. This service is available from 6 a.m. to midnight Eastern Time on Christmas Eve.
Every year, over 1,250 uniformed personnel from the U.S. and Canada volunteer to answer calls and emails while NORAD’s Santa tracker is live. Some civilians from the U.S. Department of Defense also help, and in some years, even the President and First Lady join in to answer a few calls.
What else do you need to know about the Santa tracker?
Santa usually begins his journey at the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean and travels westward around the globe. So, he starts by visiting the South Pacific, then moves on to New Zealand, Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, and South America, in that order.
NORAD also notes that Santa’s route can be influenced by weather conditions, making it unpredictable. They coordinate with Santa’s Elf Launch Team to confirm his departure time, but after that, it’s up to Santa to decide where to go next. read more…
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