Keeping tabs on Santa Claus just got a whole lot easier.
As it has for more than half a century, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will capture this Christmas Eve real-time data on Kriss Kringle’s progress as he traverses the globe, delivering yuletide joy to the world’s girls and boys.
But now, Big Isle keiki can join children around the world in viewing that data and tracking the jolly old elf’s journey from their mobile devices.
On Monday, the NORAD Tracks Santa website, noradsanta.org, launched a mobile version, complete with a holiday countdown, new games, daily activities and more. Available in eight languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese and Chinese, the site provides kids everywhere with the information they need to ensure they are on Santa’s list and his delivery route — provided, of course, they’ve been good all year.
Official NORAD Tracks Santa apps also are available in Windows, Apple and Google Play stores, allowing keiki and their parents to count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smartphones and tablets. Tracking his flight also is possible on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ by typing @noradsanta into their search engines.
Kids also can log on to the site to meet Santa’s new elf and help choose the perfect name for him.
Beginning at 9:01 p.m. Dec. 23, keiki will be able to log on and watch Santa make preparations for his flight. NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way to various locations. Then, at 1 a.m. Dec. 24, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialing the toll-free number 877-Hi-NORAD (877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.
Any time on Dec. 24, Windows Phone users can ask Cortana for Santa’s location, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to find Santa.
Meanwhile, Hawaii Island’s own Gemini Observatory also will train its high-powered, twin 8.1-meter optical/infrared telescopes on Santa as he approaches the Big Island, according to observatory spokesman Peter Michaud.
“If he were to pass over our field of view, we’d be able to obtain high resolution images of him and his reindeer,” he said.
NORAD’s important Santa tracking mission began in 1955 when a local media advertisement directed children to call Santa direct — only the number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center.
For more information, visit noradsanta.org.
Email Colin M. Stewart at cstewart@hawaiitribune-herald.com.