For those with young children, NORAD track Santa on his journey around the globe each Christmas.
In the run up to Christamas Eve, they provide a count down clock and lots of little activities for kids. On the magical night itself they upload a film every hour, linked to Google Earth, showing where Santa is up to on his journey.
My kids have both loved doing this for the past two or three years and so I thought I would share the "secret" with you all.
Go on give it a go, you might even smile yourself...
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html
Simon
How We Track Santa
NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.
Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system consists of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. On Christmas Eve, NORAD monitors the radar continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole.
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 Earths surface are equipped with infrared sensors which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph's bright red nose gives off an infrared signature which allow our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.
The third tracking system is the Santa Cam network. We began using it in 1998, which is the year we put our Santa Tracking program on the internet. Santa Cams are ultra-cool, high-tech, high-speed digital cameras that are pre-positioned at many locations around the world. NORAD only uses these cameras once a year on Christmas Eve. The cameras capture images and videos of Santa and his reindeer as they make their journey around the world.
The fourth system is made up of fighter jets. Canadian NORAD fighter pilots flying the CF-18 intercept and welcome Santa to North America. In the United States, American NORAD fighter pilots in either the F-15 or the F-16 get the thrill of flying alongside Santa and his famous reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and, of course, Rudolph.
In the run up to Christamas Eve, they provide a count down clock and lots of little activities for kids. On the magical night itself they upload a film every hour, linked to Google Earth, showing where Santa is up to on his journey.
My kids have both loved doing this for the past two or three years and so I thought I would share the "secret" with you all.
Go on give it a go, you might even smile yourself...
http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html
Simon