December 24, 2008

NORAD confirms: Santa and his sleigh are on their way

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which as been tracking Santa's annual trip for the past 50 years, reports on its site that Saint Nick has already spread Christmas cheer to the North Pole (of course)—Sidney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Fuji, Japan; and the Great Wall of China. How does NORAD know this? Perhaps it's the dozens of "Santa cams" the agency has stationed around the globe.

As Scientific American.com reported last week, this is the first year that Twitter users will be able to follow "tweets" (twitter messages) concerning the jolly fellow's annual trek. These messages will come from "Bitz the Elf," according to Google's global and communications office. (Google is helping NORAD this year with a variety of Web-based software, including Google Maps and Google Earth.) As Santa makes his way around the world, Bitz will provide updates of his location to anyone following the Twitter screen name "noradsanta."

Also new this year: users can open Google Maps for mobile on their cell phones and type "norad santa" in the search box to follow the legendary gift giver via their phones. Google Earth lets users follow Santa in 3D on their computers (although they have to first download a special file in addition to Earth to track him this way).

Image: ©iStockphoto.com

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American