NORAD zeroes in on Santa — in 3D

He's already en route, swooping from one continent to another—and he's bearing gifts. NORAD is once again keeping tabs on St. Nick's annual journey, and you can follow along with Google Earth (in 3D!), on the Web, or even with a garden-variety phone.

You can check out Santa's current position right here, at the NORAD Tracks Santa Web site, which includes an embedded Google map of the sleigh's current position, icons showing where Mr. Claus has been and where he's going, and even YouTube videos documenting his most recent touchdowns.

Want to see Santa and his reindeer in 3D? If you've got Google Earth installed, just download the "NORAD Tracks Santa" location file (instructions are right here); it should open automatically in the Google Earth app, and it'll display Santa's aerial location in real-time, complete with a fairly realistic 3D rendering of the man himself and his sleigh.

On the go with your iPhone or T-Mobile G1 (or any handset with Google Maps installed, for that matter)? Just fire up the Google Maps app and search for "Norad Santa"—his position should pop right up.

Or ... you can do it the old-fashioned way: Dial 1-877-HI-NORAD (877-466-6723), or 1-719-556-5211 if you're in Colorado Springs or overseas (warning: it's a toll call). There's even an e-mail address: noratrackssanta@gmail.com

As this AP story notes, NORAD's been tracking Santa for more than fifty years now; apparently, it all started with a misprint in a 1955 Sears ad, which had a phone number for kids to call St. Nick himself.

I'm guessing the number was supposed to be for some Sears lackey posing as Santa; instead, someone got the number wrong, and eager kids found themselves talking to Col. Harry W. Shoup of the Continental Air Defense Command—later re-named NORAD—instead. Shoup, a "nut about Christmas" (as his daughter told the AP), played along, and the rest is history.