Best Website of 2009: NORAD Tracks Santa
Today, I continue our new series on my favorite websites for Information Technology Professionals. I either read these daily or subscribe to them via my RSS reader.
Today, I report the single best IT Professional Website of 2009! It is NORAD Tracks Santa. I love this site.
Today, I wish to feature NORAD Tracks Santa. It is an awesome annual tradition that I think all IT Professionals should share with their families and friends. If you have trouble explaining what it is that you do for a living, a technological wonder like this site can really help bridge the gap to the little ones. Plus, it is just plain a ton of fun!I hope that you enjoy it.
So how exactly do they track Santa at NORAD? I cannot describe it better than they do… From their own about page:
NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa – radar, satellites, Santa Cams and fighter jets.
Tracking Santa starts with the NORAD radar system called the North Warning System. This powerful radar system consists of 47 installations strung across the northern border of North America. On Christmas Eve, NORAD monitors the radar systems continuously for indications that Santa Claus has left the North Pole.
The moment that radar indicates Santa has lifted off, we use our second detection system. Satellites positioned in geo-synchronous orbit at 22,300 miles from the Earth’s surface are equipped with infrared sensors, which enable them to detect heat. Amazingly, Rudolph’s bright red nose gives off an infrared signature, which allow our satellites to detect Rudolph and Santa.
NORAD Tracks Santa has a lot of fun pages of activities, learning, and history. I especially like their information about NORAD itself:
NORAD is the bi-national U.S.-Canadian military organization responsible for the aerospace and maritime defense of the United States and Canada. NORAD, created by a 1958 agreement between Canada and the United States, provides advanced warning of impending missile and air attacks against its member nations, safeguards the air sovereignty of North America, and maintains airborne forces for defense against attack.
The site is a fantastic example of the power of our Internet to close the distances between us on the globe. They really have done a great job on it. Enjoy it!
Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! Thank you so much for reading my blog all year long. I wish you all of the best and then some!
That is my Information Technology Thought of the Day (ITTOD) for December 25, 2009 by Scott Coughlin.
UPDATE: CNET.com is running a SUPER and HEART WARMING “Behind the Scenes at NORAD Tracks Santa” story today. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Image Credits:NORAD Tracks Santa
Special thanks to the team at NORAD Tracks Santa I really appreciate your work at putting out such a terrific resource for the Information Technology Professional community.
Don’t forget that The IT Thought of the Day Webstore is now open for the Holiday Season! Great selections and anything that you buy at Amazon.com through it helps us without costing you anymore! Happy Holidays with wishes for a joyful New Year.
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