Scientists discuss creation of time zone on the Moon – 03/20/2023 – Science

What time is it on the moon? At the moment, no one is sure.

Time in Earth’s orbit is generally the same as in the corresponding region of the planet, but as different countries plan to travel and work on the lunar surface in the coming years, there is debate about whether it would not be a good idea to have official lunar time.

The European Space Agency (ESA) has argued that combining a time zone for the Moon will not only make it easier for different space agencies around the world to work together, but could also help to have more accurate orientation and navigation on the surface. lunar.

WHY IS THERE NO OFFICIAL TIME ON THE MOON?

European space agents say that a single space agency would have to be responsible for establishing what lunar time should be.

A decision would also have to be made about whether we should follow a country’s time zone here on Earth or whether we should have a specific time for the Moon.

Keeping time on the Moon can be tricky because clocks run a little faster on the lunar surface – a 24-hour day on a lunar clock is 56 microseconds shorter than on Earth. It may seem like a small amount, but it is a difference that accumulates. This happens because the Moon has a weaker gravity than the Earth.

Typically, short-term missions to the Moon use radio antennas to try to keep equipment synchronized with time on Earth, but ESA experts say this method may not be suitable in the long term as humans begin to maintain a longer stay. on Earth’s natural satellite.

Bernhard Hufenbach of the ESA says that establishing a time zone on the Moon will mean the same can be done for future visits to other places in space, such as Mars.

He also said that it is necessary to think about the practicality for astronauts working on the lunar surface. He also listed certain challenges, such as areas of the Moon where a day lasts almost an Earth month and icy nights that last two weeks (due to the difference in the star’s rotation time).

The US, India, Russia and Japan are planning missions to the Moon this year.

The first human visit to the Moon in more than 50 years is scheduled for 2025 with NASA’s Artemis mission, which will bring the first woman and the next man to the lunar surface.

WHAT IS A TIME ZONE?

Time is divided around the globe into time zones using imaginary lines called meridians. They go from the North Pole to the South Pole.

One of these imaginary lines runs through Greenwich in London, which establishes Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT.

Countries that are east of the UK (such as Japan) are ahead of this base time and countries that are west (such as Brazil) are behind this base time.

Brazil has more than one time zone, but what is followed in most of the country is Brasília time zone, which is equivalent to minus 3 hours of Greenwich time, that is, it is -3 GMT.

This means that when it’s 8 am in Brazil, it’s 11 am in London (unless it’s summer time in one of the countries).

– This text was published here.