NASA Is Setting Up A Time Zone For The Moon

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has revealed that it is in the process of establishing a lunar time zone.

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Referred to as "Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)," the time will be established using a weighted average of atomic clocks on the Moon, analogous to the regulation of Earth's Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The precise locations of the atomic clocks on the moon have yet to be determined; nevertheless, analysis indicates that the clocks will appear to tick faster by microseconds (one millionth of a second) each day. The creation of the LTC will facilitate the development of a sustainable lunar ecosystem that can be replicated throughout our solar system, while also guaranteeing the safety of people on future journeys despite temporal disparities.

“To contextualize these figures, a hummingbird's wings beat approximately 50 times per second,” NASA stated in their announcement. “Each flap lasts approximately 0.02 seconds, or 20,000 microseconds.” Although 56 microseconds may appear negligible, in the context of astronomical distances, even minute intervals accumulate significantly.

“At the speed of light, 56 microseconds suffices to traverse a distance equivalent to approximately 168 football fields,” stated Cheryl Gramling, head of lunar position, navigation, timing, and standards at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “An observer on Earth, neglecting the effects of relativity over a day, would perceive an astronaut orbiting the Moon to be approximately 168 football fields distant from their actual position.”

The LTC will be instituted by NASA, overseen by the agency's Space Communication and Navigation (SCaN) program, and is mandated by the White House to finalize this initiative by the conclusion of 2026.