Electronic engineers can follow Santa’s sleigh via Norad tracker

Santa Claus is coming to town and he might be packing some electronic gifts?

(Photo Credit: Pawel Kopczynski/Reuters)

The jolly happy soul packed up his sleigh and started his route around the world around 1 a.m. ET Saturday, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad).

For the 61st time, Norad is the official Santa Tracker, and is also answering the calls and questions from children around the world. The website follows Santa on his route and includes a few videos of Santa flying through cities around the world.

Norad, a joint Canada-U.S. operation based in Colorado, says it can keep up with Santa’s swift pace by using a system of “SantaCams” and satellites with heat-sensing infrared sensors that can detect heat signatures from Rudolph’s nose “with no problem,” as the lead reindeer helps pull the jolly old soul’s sleigh across the sky.

“The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing air warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America,” Norad says on the FAQ section of its Santa website. For any kids planning to try to sneak a glimpse of Saint Nick, Norad says it’s impossible to predict exactly when he’ll arrive at your house.

When Santa gets to Canada, he’ll be escorted across the country by Canadian Norad fighter pilots.

“Only Santa knows his route,” Norad says. “We do, however, know from history that it appears he arrives only when children are asleep! In most countries, it seems Santa arrives between 9:00 p.m. and midnight on December 24th.”

The first stop for Santa was in Russia. By 2 p.m. ET, Santa had already delivered nearly 2.5 billion gifts, starting in New Zealand and Australia, then navigating across much of Asia and into Europe. He is expected to go over North America later today. When Santa gets to Canada, he’ll be escorted across the country by Canadian Norad fighter pilots.

“The responsibility of keeping watchful eyes over North American airspace 24/7 rests with our men and women of the Canadian Norad Region,” said Maj.-Gen. Christian Drouin, commander of 1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian Norad Region, in a news release. “It is a duty and honour we hold dearly: to ensure Santa’s safe passage through North America so he can deliver joy and goodwill this holiday season.”

Curious kids can call Norad at 1-877-Hi-NORAD or email noradtracksanta@outlook.com to find out where Santa is headed next.