paulscheer:

Norad tracks Santa...He’s already in Denmark

From the Norad site…

The North Warning System contains 47 radars positioned strategically throughout the northernmost portion of our continent to notify NORAD when Santa Claus leaves North Pole. Infrared satellites then track his flight path as soon as he is in the air. “The satellites actually pick up an infrared signature from Rudolph’s nose,” Navy Lt. Desmond James told Wired.com.

As soon as Santa hits the ground, a small network of surveillance cameras called “Santa Cam” transmits images of St. Nicholas delivering packages and gifts. The network of cameras went live 10 years ago, and NORAD officials promise that it is used only on Christmas Eve.

Santa is escorted through Canada by four C-18 fighter jets prior to handing off the duty to F-16s as he heads into American airways. Children can track Santa’s whereabouts online via a Google Map and Google Earth, via cellphone and Blackberry, and even on Twitter.