COORDINATED LUNAR TIME -
SCI & TECH
News: A time standard for Moon’s
surface: what is it and why is it needed?
What's in the news?
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Recently, the US White House issued an official
directive to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to
establish a time standard specifically for the Moon.
Coordinated Lunar Time
(LTC):
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LTC serves as a time-keeping benchmark for lunar spacecraft and satellites,
ensuring precision for missions.
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It synchronizes
communication between satellites, astronauts, bases, and Earth, essential
for coordinating operations and managing lunar commerce logistics.
Need for LTC:
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On the Moon, where gravity is weaker, time passes
slightly faster relative to Earth, posing challenges for spacecraft docking,
data transfer, communication, and navigation.
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Earth-based clocks on the Moon lose an average of 58.7 microseconds per
Earth day, with additional periodic variations.
Functioning of Earth's
Time Standard (Coordinated Universal Time):
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Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the
international standard for world time, set by the International Bureau of
Weights and Measures in Paris, France.
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UTC is determined by a weighted average of over 400 atomic clocks worldwide.
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Atomic clocks measure time based on the resonant
frequencies of atoms like cesium-133,
providing stable and accurate timekeeping.
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Countries adjust their local time relative to UTC
by adding or subtracting hours based on their distance from the Greenwich meridian (0° longitude).
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Countries to the west of the Greenwich meridian
subtract hours from UTC, while those to the east add hours.