NASA is in the process of establishing its own time zone for the Moon, known as LTC. This initiative is being coordinated with international organizations such as the International Bureau of Weights and Measures and the International Astronomical Union, as the moon’s gravity affects time and time passes slightly faster on the Moon than on Earth.
By 2030, it is projected that people will be living on the Moon. With an increase in traffic to the Moon, including recent attempts by probes to land there, this has become necessary to ensure accurate navigation for those living or working on the lunar surface. Physicists have calculated that time passes faster on the Moon due to its reduced gravity compared to Earth, with estimates suggesting that time ticks 0.0000575 seconds faster per day than on Earth.
Different calculations have been made to determine a common lunar time, with discussions among international organizations taking place to establish Lunar Universal Time. To create a universal timezone for the Moon, NASA will need to send atomic clocks to track its seconds and passage of time compared to Earth. Other countries such as China may decide if they will follow NASA’s suggested time for the Moon, but ultimately only one time zone is expected to apply to all points on the Moon, ensuring universal timekeeping on the lunar surface.