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November 30, 2008
Norad Tracks Santa 2008 - With Google's Help
[UPDATE: It's Christmas Eve! The santa tracker is now live!]
Like last year, the Norad Tracks Santa site will open its web site on December 1st allowing kids everywhere to watch the countdown to Christmas Eve. The web site will feature fun holiday games and activities daily until December 24th. And, like last year, the official application to watch Santa fly around the world on Christmas Eve will be Google Earth.
The NORAD Tracks Santa (NTS) program began on Dec. 24, 1955, after an errant phone call was made to the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The call was from a local youngster who dialed a misprinted telephone number in a local newspaper advertisement. The commander who answered the phone that night gave the youngster the information requested – the whereabouts of Santa Claus. This began the tradition of tracking Santa Claus, a tradition that was carried on by NORAD when it was formed in 1958. This Christmas marks the 50th anniversary of NORAD tracking Santa Claus as he goes around the world delivering presents.
In 2006 Google created a 3D game in Google Earth where you had to find Christmas presents somewhere on the Earth for the two weeks leading up to Christmas. They had Santa's North Pole home and his sleigh rendered in 3D, and then the Santa tracker was linked to the Norad data. Google also used Google Earth to track Santa in 2005. Last year (2007) was the first year Google's mapping applications were the official ones used by Norad for following Santa on the Internet.
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Posted by FrankTaylor at November 30, 2008 8:20 AM
Comments
Posted by: CMormann at December 24, 2008 12:18 PM
I used you in my blog for Norad Santa. If you want commint on it. That would be really cool.
Posted by: Sallie at January 7, 2009 9:28 AM
hello santa hope you are doing well i just want to say that last december there thanks for the presents
Posted by: sophie boothman at April 4, 2009 7:34 AM
im really extatic for chrismas,are you.2 days til.
Posted by: Adam at December 23, 2009 10:14 AM
TRY www.kriskringle.com
THEY HAVE A TRACKING CENTER....
Posted by: mike at September 25, 2010 10:06 PM
Post a comment:
NOTE: Please use English. Comments are moderated.
I am trying to trak Santa Claus for the kids in Country Kids Day Care. Could You pleas help?
WE live in LaCrescent,Mn at XXX XXX Hill Rd.
thank you.