The Moon’s reduced gravity causes time to pass slightly faster than on Earth. NASA, in coordination with the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and the International Astronomical Union, is working on establishing its own universal time for the Moon, known as LTC, by the end of 2026.
As traffic to the Moon increases, including recent attempts by probes to land there, it is projected that people will be living on the Moon in the 2030s. Time calculations show that time passes faster on the Moon than on Earth, which could impact navigation. NASA has been tasked with creating coordinated time for the Moon by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Physicists have calculated that time passes faster on the Moon due to its reduced gravity compared to Earth. Different calculations have been made to determine a common lunar time, with discussions among international organizations taking place to establish Lunar Universal Time. The creation of a Moon’s own time will require atomic clocks to be sent to the Moon to track its seconds and passage of time compared to Earth. Other countries, such as China, will decide if they will follow NASA’s suggested time for the Moon. Ultimately, only one time zone is expected to apply to all points on the Moon, ensuring universal timekeeping on the lunar surface.
