Is he here yet?

Laboratory scientists keep tabs on Santa

Researchers in Space Data Systems (ISR-3) are keeping an eye out for Santa. Beginning at 6 this morning, ISR-3 will track the jolly old elf on his whirlwind travels around the world and give hourly updates via its Web site at http://santa.lanl.gov online on Santa's progress toward Northern New Mexico.

Kids of all ages also can keep track of Santa by listening to hourly reports on radio station KRSN AM 1490.

"We expect Santa to arrive in Northern New Mexico at around midnight Mountain Standard Time on Christmas Eve," said Diane Roussel-Dupré of ISR-3. "Basically, we expect that he'll be chasing the International Date Line to make his deliveries at midnight in all locations around the world."

Laboratory space scientists will use satellite tracking dishes located in Los Alamos and Fairbanks, Alaska, to monitor Santa's progress as he races around the world delivering presents and goodies to children everywhere. In addition, Los Alamos scientists will keep an eye on St. Nick with sensors on the ALEXIS and FORTE satellites and the U.S. Air Force with its nine tracking stations around the world also will help monitor the sleigh and its eight tiny reindeer.

"We like to think of our efforts as another way to help spread glad tidings," Roussel-Dupré said. "This is our present to the communities of Northern New Mexico."

-- Judy Goldie

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