Santa Claus is coming to town! NORAD tracker shows if his sleigh is on its way

By Lydia Warren

Last updated at 4:33 PM on 24th December 2011

Here's hoping you've been good, because Santa is on his way.

And now families across the world can see just how far Saint Nick and his reindeer are from their homes, thanks to a 'Santa Tracker' that follows his route around the globe.

The tracker – a collaboration between Google and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – shows live footage of the sleigh passing landmarks including Big Ben, the Empire State Building and, of course, his grotto in the North Pole.

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Holidays are coming: Santa can be seen over Auckland, New Zealand this morning. He is being tracked by North American Aerospace Defense Command satellites and radars as he makes his journey across the globe

Where is he? The NORAD Santa Tracker site, shown on Saturday morning, maps out the sleigh's route so far

It uses radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets to follow his sleigh, and can be seen online on Google Earth.

Santa can also been seen on the Google Maps app on smart phones by typing in ‘Santa’ or on the NORAD Santa Site.

The site 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.’

Ho-ho-holidays: Santa is shown taking off from the North Pole. The footage can be seen on Google Earth maps

Ready: 1,200 volunteers at NORAD answer calls and emails from children to let them know if Santa's on his way

Ready: 1,200 NORAD volunteers answer calls and emails from children to let them know if Santa is on his way

Landmarks: Footage from 2008 shows the sleigh over New York City. Santa has been tracked by NORAD for 56 years

Landmarks: Footage from 2008 shows the sleigh over New York City. NORAD has tracked Santa for 56 years

NORAD has been tracking Santa’s journey for more than 50 years.

In 1955, a Colorado Springs newspaper advert invited children to talk to Santa on a hotline.

WHERE IS SANTA CLAUS?

You can find out if Santa and the reindeer are on their way by:

Visiting the NORAD Santa Site
Calling 877-HI NORAD from the U.S. or +1 (719) 556-5211 from outside the U.S.
Emailing noradtrackssanta@gmail.com
Visiting the NORAD social network sites, including its Twitter and Facebook pages
Typing in 'Santa' to Google maps on Android or iPhones
Installing the Google Earth plugin and following his journey online

But the number had a typo, and dozens of children mistakenly dialed the Continental Aerospace Defense Command in Colorado Springs, the predecessor to NORAD.

The officers on duty sprang into action and began passing along reports on Santa's progress – and the tradition was born.

It is going strong, with a Denver-based NORAD crew answering 80,000 phone calls and 7,000 emails on Christmas Eve last year.

The NORAD Tracks Santa website has had more than 2.2 million unique visitors this year, compared with 2 million last year, according to the Associated Press.

More than 1,200 volunteers will answer calls in shifts until 3 a.m. Mountain Time on December 25.

They check big-screen computer monitors to pass along information to the children who call in.

‘It's just so precious to hear the little sigh or (only) breathing on the other end, and you realize how nervous they are,’ Joyce Creech, NORAD’s project leader, told the Associated Press.

Slick operation: Volunteers answer emails and calls from families while referring to satellite and radar readings

Santa's helpers: Volunteers answer emails and calls from families while referring to satellite readings

In demand: Last year, volunteers answered 80,000 calls on Christmas Eve. Lines close at 3 a.m. Mountain Time

‘But we've had really heart-wrenching stories as well,’ she said. ‘”Can you ask Santa to heal my brother of cancer?” Or, “Can I get a new pair of shoes? I don't have any.”’

This year, they have added a further 20 phones this year, bringing the total to 120, and four more laptops, totalling at 23.

The tracker now even has a Twitter account, a Facebook page, a Youtube channel and apps for mobile phones, along with a website, and the phone line, 877-HI NORAD.

‘You can tell that it really brings people joy, and especially kids,’ Creech added.

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