NORAD Tracks Santa Claus Across Globe

NORAD is preparing for its annual Christmas duty: tracking Santa Claus as the big guy makes his way across the globe. NORAD pulls out all the stops to follow Mr. Kringle on his ride, including radar, satellites, “Santa Cams,” and fighter jets.

Yes, NORAD mobilizes multi-million-dollar F-15 and F-16 fighter jets to track Santa. It’s serious business. (Question: If reindeer can fly as fast as an F-16, why don’t we just use … ah, nevermind.)

Apparently, Santa isn’t that difficult to track, thanks to a particularly famous reindeer. According to NORAD, “Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allows our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.”

Throughout Santa’s journey, NORAD will post videos captured by its Santa Cams, which it describes as “ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world.”

NORAD’s website is chock full of games and information for kids, including a game in which you direct a snowman down a ski slope, picking up snowman components (sticks, carrots) while dodging trees. I’m not at all ashamed to admit this game sucked me right in.

So gather the kids, pour some egg nog and hot chocolate, make a fire, and watch as Santa gets closer and closer to your house!