Create a time zone for the moon

56 microseconds – that is, 56 millionths of a second. A day goes so much faster on the moon compared to the earth.

The American space agency Nasa has been tasked with creating its own time zone for our nearest celestial body.

Dubbed Lunar Coordinated Time (LTC), the time zone is predicted to take on major significance in light of the ongoing second wave of the Moon Race.

No human has been on the moon since the US Apollo program from 1968 to 1972. But the moon has come into focus as a desirable stop for continued space exploration, with its sights set on Mars. Countries such as the USA, China, Japan and India as well as a number of private companies have launched space probes in recent years and the USA has launched the new Artemis lunar program.

But when craft are to land on the moon, precise timing is required. That space probes there operating after Earth time can create problems, the White House warns in a memorandum where it primarily asks Nasa to meet the challenge of the new time zone.

The reason why an atomic clock on the moon would go slightly faster than one on earth has to do with the moon’s gravity and the movement of the celestial body in relation to the earth, writes the public service channel NPR.

To determine accurate lunar time, the White House proposes sending a number of atomic clocks to the moon. It is also noted that the establishment of LTC time requires an international agreement.