Where Is Santa Tonight? Track Mr. Claus' Magical Journey with Google & NORAD This Christmas!

Christmas is just around the corner, and the excitement among kids worldwide is palpable as they eagerly await the arrival of Santa Claus. Interestingly, Santa Claus has been on the radar of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) since the 1950s. NORAD, a binational organization responsible for aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and security for both Canada and the United States (US), has a unique tradition of tracking Santa. This practice originated in 1955 through NORAD’s predecessor organization, the Continental Air Defence Command (CONAD).

After seeing a newspaper advertisement instructing children to call Santa, a child dialled the phone number of the CONAD Operations Centre. At the time, Harry Shoup, the Director of Operations for CONAD, answered the phone and instructed staff to check the radar for signs of Santa making his way south from the North Pole.

This gave birth to a tradition in which NORAD reports Santa’s location on December 24 every year. Since then, the organisation has established the NORAD Tracks Santa website, which allows children and adults all over the world to track Santa’s location.

“While the tradition of tracking Santa began purely by accident, NORAD continues to track Santa. We’re the only organisation that has the technology, the qualifications, and the people to do it. And, we love it! NORAD is honoured to be Santa’s official tracker!” NORAD’s official website reads.

Check how to use the Track Santa feature on Google and NORAD.

HOW TO TRACK SANTA CLAUS ON NORAD

1. To track Santa with the help of NORAD, visit noradsanta.org.
2. Upon entering the website, you’ll be welcomed by a captivating 3D simulation of Santa and his sleigh, pulled by reindeer, making their way across the globe.
3. The tracker provides real-time information on Santa’s last known location, his upcoming destinations, and the number of gifts he has delivered.

TRACKING SANTA CLAUS USING GOOGLE

It should come as no surprise that Google, which operates the most widely used search engine globally, can track Santa even without the advanced aerospace tracking capabilities of NORAD.

1. Visit https://santatracker.google.com/ to use Google’s Santa tracker.
2. Google’s Santa tracker is limited to 2D tracking, with an animated Santa and his sleigh travelling the globe, unlike NORAD’s tracker.
3. Important data is also shown by Google’s tracker, including the distance travelled, the gifts delivered, and Santa’s next destination.

December 25 is celebrated as Christmas everywhere across the world.