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Where is Santa right now? Use the NORAD live tracker to map his 2023 Christmas flight

By Gina Martinez

Updated on: December 25, 2023 / 6:33 AM EST / CBS News

Santa Claus  made his annual trip from the North Pole on Christmas Eve to deliver presents to children all over the world. And like it does every year, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, known as NORAD, has its official tracker following Santa's journey for Christmas 2023.

NORAD, which is responsible for protecting the skies over the United States and Canada, has been tracking Santa every Christmas Eve for the last 68 years. 

Here is all you need to know to track Saint Nick on his travels this Christmas:

Where is Santa right now?

As of about 6:30 a.m. ET on Christmas Day, NORAD says Santa has completed his rounds for this year, stopping in Hawaii and the South Pacific Islands after moving across the United States. Earlier he'd been tracked heading across Asia, Africa, Europe, and then South America. NORAD says he's delivered some 7.8 billion gifts.

You can monitor Santa's progress in NORAD's map below. [Note: The map works better on mobile devices; if you don't see it below you can click here   to view it on NORAD's website.]

You can also follow updates on NORAD's Facebook , X , Instagram , and YouTube pages. 

Operators were also standing by at 1-877-HI-NORAD for families who want to call for an update on Santa's whereabouts. Last year, NORAD and volunteers answered over 73,000 calls on Christmas Eve, according to the Pentagon. 

When will Santa come to your house?

According to NORAD, it's impossible to know because only Santa knows his route.  But history suggests he only arrives when children are asleep, so anytime between 9 p.m. and midnight on December 24 is a good bet. 

"If children are still awake when Santa arrives, he moves on to other houses. He returns later, but only when the children are asleep!" NORAD says .

How does the Santa tracker work?

NORAD uses a combination of radars, satellites and jet fighters, it says, to keep a watchful eye on Santa's progress.

Its radar system, called the North Warning System, monitors the North Pole every Christmas.

"The moment our radar tells us that Santa has lifted off, we begin to use the same satellites that we use in providing air warning of possible missile launches aimed at North America," NORAD's Santa tracker website says. 

Satellites located 22,300 miles above the Earth with infrared sensors also help NORAD in its tracking duties. 

"Rudolph's nose gives off an infrared signature similar to a missile launch," NORAD says. "The satellites detect Rudolph's bright red nose with no problem."

And finally, NORAD says Canadian and American jet fighters welcome Santa and his reindeer and escort them through North American airspace.

"Even though Santa flies faster than any jet fighter (Santa slows down for us to escort him), all of these systems together provide NORAD with a very good continuous picture of his whereabouts," according to NORAD. 

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How to Track Santa's Trip Around the World on Christmas Eve

Thanks to NORAD, Google, and several apps, you can follow along with Santa's round-the-world Christmas Eve journey in real time.

Mohd Rasfan / AFP / Getty Images

You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town. And thanks to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), Google, websites like Santa Update, and a number of holiday-themed apps, you can track his route to your house — or even call or text Mr. Claus directly. Here are some of our favorite ways to see what Kris Kringle is up to on Christmas Eve.

How to Track Santa With Google

Each year, Google hosts a digital Santa's Village experience , complete with a ton of fun interactive games and activities to get kids (and kids at heart) into the holiday spirit.

One fun feature teaches you how to say and spell Santa Claus in a number of different languages, and there's a geography quiz that will test your knowledge of all the countries Santa must visit in one night. Don't miss the interactive map where you can learn about unique holiday traditions around the world , from wearing a toque hat in French Canada to sporting swim trunks in Australia.

On December 24, the entire website will be transformed into a tracking experience so everyone can see Santa's progress as he makes his way around the world with his trusty reindeer.

Those with Google-connected devices can ask the Google Assistant, "Hey Google, what’s new at the North Pole?" and receive fun daily updates from Dimplesticks the Elf. To speak directly to Santa just say, "Hey Google, call Santa” or ask the Google Assistant for a Santa joke to hear his comedy routine. Google's new conversational AI tool, Bard , will also let you keep tabs on Santa's journey when you ask, "Where is Santa?"

How to Track Santa With NORAD

For decades, Santa fans of all ages have called up NORAD's toll-free number, +1 (877) HI-NORAD (1-877-446-6723), for live updates on December 24. Nowadays, you can also track Santa's whereabouts with the NORAD Santa Tracker website, through its dedicated app, NORAD Tracks Santa (available in the App Store and on Google Play ), or on Facebook , Instagram , and X, formerly known as Twitter .

So, how did NORAD start tracking Santa's journey around the world in the first place? It turns out this popular tradition began in 1955 when a little kid accidentally called the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Operations Center in Colorado Springs. The child, meaning to call Santa, had apparently dialed the wrong number after seeing a misprint in a local newspaper ad.

According to NORAD's website , the Air Force commander who answered, Colonel Harry Shoup, realized what was happening and "assured the youngster that CONAD would guarantee Santa a safe journey from the North Pole." When NORAD was created in 1958, the tradition carried on, with the agency reporting Santa's location on Christmas Eve.

Though roughly 15 million people from more than 200 countries visit the site each year, NORAD's website states that volunteers also answer over 130,000 calls to its NORAD Tracks Santa hotline from curious children worldwide.

More Ways to Track Santa’s Journey

A number of other Santa-tracking apps, such as Santa Tracker and Status Check by First Class Media B.V., Santa Tracker by Dualverse, Inc., and Where is Santa Lite by Super Kiddo Studio, are available via Google Play and the App Store.

Speak to Santa Christmas Call by the North Pole Command Centre Limited (available in the App Store and on Google Play ), lets you make video and voice calls to the man himself. The popular app goes the extra mile to make each conversation personalized by letting you provide details about your child, like their favorite colors, sports, and foods as well as what they want for Christmas that year.

In case that isn't enough Santa material for you, there's also the website Santa Update , which has been tracking Santa online since 1991. There, kids can play games, listen to stories, and view a live tracker on Christmas Eve. Little ones can also send an email or text message to Santa, give him a call (at 1-866-84-SANTA year-round), and send him their Christmas wish list. Another fun feature lets kids apply to be a Christmas Elf, which involves studying the Elf Code, taking an oath, and deciding on a secret name.

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Ho Ho Ho! Track Santa around the world with Google’s Santa Tracker

Dec 24, 2014

[[read-time]] min read

After 23 days of preparation, the elves are finally ready for Santa’s annual journey around the globe. They’ve taught each other how to say  "Santa Claus" in Swedish , guided their friends through mazes  with code , brushed up on  their geography , and learned about  organizations making a difference worldwide . It’s been a busy month, but Santa’s sleigh is now ready for lift-off!

Each stop on Santa’s journey offers more to explore—discover 360-degree imagery, Wikipedia snippets, geography facts, and updates on how far Santa’s current location is from yours (take note—Santa’s path is not a direct one!). Come back and visit  google.com/santatracker  throughout the night for more surprises, like sleigh selfies or a  latitude and longitude game  to deliver presents.

If you’re on the ho-ho-go, download the  Santa Tracker App for Android  to keep track of Santa on your phone or tablet. With the Android app, watch Santa’s journey on your TV using Chromecast, or on your wrist with Android Wear (especially handy when wrapping last-minute gifts). And, you can always search for Santa on  www.google.com  or on  Google Maps , and get real-time location updates with Google Now in the Google App.

Santa’s got a long and exciting night ahead of him before heading back to the North Pole. Grab some eggnog, set out the cookies, and join Google Maps on  Google+ ,  Facebook  and  Twitter  to  #tracksanta !

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