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Track Jolly Ol' St. Nick With NORAD and Google

by Terrence O'Brien on December 2, 2010 at 01:35 PM

Track Santa With NORAD and Google
It's that time of year again, and that can mean only one thing: that we're about to start tracking Santa like an ICBM, with the help of NORAD and Google. Since 1955, the North American Aerospace Defense Command has brought joy to youngsters by using its high-tech satellites and radar to track jolly ol' Saint Nick as he crisscrosses the globe, delivering toys to all the good little boys and girls (and bits of depleted uranium to all the trouble makers). In 2004, Google started its own Santa tracking program, but it quickly became clear that dividing their efforts was silly; in 2007, NORAD and Google officially joined forces to create the greatest Santa tracking agency ever.

The countdown has already begun at NoradSanta.org, and, on December 24th, you'll be able to watch as Kris Kringle makes the rounds on the NORAD site, in Google Earth or, if you're out and about, via Google Maps on your mobile phone. Using military technology to monitor Father Christmas is one of the stranger holiday traditions here in the U.S., but we've gotta say, it might be our favorite. Happy holidays!

Tags: christmas, google, GoogleEarth, hgg, holidays, norad, santa, SantaClaus, top, web

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