Live above: NORAD’s Santa Tracker, which will officially begin tracking Santa at 6 a.m. ET on Tuesday, December 24.
(NEXSTAR) — The stockings have been hung by the chimney with care, and St. Nicholas will soon be there. Unlike Christmases of yore, you no longer have to listen for a clatter on your lawn to know Santa Claus has arrived — there’s a tracker for that.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, will again be tracking Santa and his eight tiny reindeer as they make their trek around the world this Christmas.
The organization — a joint effort between the U.S. and Canada — is responsible for tracking everything that flies in and around both countries. The tracking of the man in red, which began accidentally in 1955, remains its most beloved mission.
Santa is scheduled to depart the North Pole at around 4 a.m. ET on Tuesday, December 24, which is when NORAD will start tracking his movements around the world.
For those who prefer to hear directly from those tracking Santa, NORAD staffs a call center of members who can tell you exactly where he is, from 8 a.m. ET on Christmas Eve until early Christmas morning. You can reach NORAD at 1-877-HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) during those hours.
If you want to be extra certain of Santa’s arrival, Google will also be tracking his progress starting at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
