Standard time is the synchronisation of clocks within a geographical region to a single time standard. UTC is the time standard commonly used on the Earth. Now, the White House wants NASA to figure out how to tell time on the moon as well.

Why is NASA creating a time standard for the moon?

The White House is making a new strategic move to spearhead space convenience to this end it has issued a directive asking it to create a unified time standard for celestial bodies notably the moon.

US government asks NASA to create time zones for the moon

Moon Standard Time: The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon.

The space agency was sent a memo by the head of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Tuesday (April 2) in which they were asked to work in coordination with other US agencies and international agencies for setting up a moon-centric time reference system.&nbsp;

NASA has been given time till the end of 2026 to set up what is known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC).&nbsp;

<h2>How different is the moon's time zone from that of Earth?</h2>

The time zone on the Moon won't be very similar to the standard time zones we have on Earth. Actually, Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will be an entire frame of time covering all the regions on the Moon.

Since the gravity on the moon is less, time shifts a bit quickly - 58.7 microseconds every day – in comparison to Earth.

Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will also provide scientists with a time-keeping benchmark for lunar satellites and spacecraft that require extreme precision for their missions.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenery-on-moon-soon-nasa-to-put-plants-on-lunar-surface-by-2026-706920">Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026</a>

“An atomic clock on the moon will tick at a different rate than a clock on Earth,” said Kevin Coggins, a top communications and navigation official at NASA.

“It makes sense that when you go to another body, like the moon or Mars, that each one gets its own heartbeat," he added.

<h2>Why is&nbsp;Moon Standard Time important?</h2>

In September 2026, NASA is planning to send its astronaut missions to the moon through its Artemis programme. They will also establish a scientific lunar base which can help set the stage for future missions to Mars.&nbsp;

Various spacecraft, companies and countries are part of the effort.

Speaking to Reuters, an OSTP official said that without a unified lunar time standard, the scientists will find it challenging to ensure that secured data transfers are taking place between spacecraft. It will also be difficult to synchronise communications among Earth, lunar satellites, bases and astronauts.

Watch:&nbsp;Pluto: Should 'Pluto' be a planet again? The debate rages on

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/pluto-should-pluto-be-a-planet-again-the-debate-rages-on-706731/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

According to the official, the discrepancies in time can also result in errors in mapping the moon and locating positions on or orbiting around the natural satellite.

“Imagine if the world wasn’t syncing their clocks to the same time, how disruptive that might be and how challenging everyday things become,” said the official.

(With inputs from agencies)

Moon Standard Time: The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon.

Moon Standard Time: The daunting task of setting up a standard time zone on the Moon has been given to the space agency NASA by the White House with the hope that people on Earth will be able to tell what time it is on the Moon. The space agency was sent a memo by the head of the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) on Tuesday (April 2) in which they were asked to work in coordination with other US agencies and international agencies for setting up a moon-centric time reference system. NASA has been given time till the end of 2026 to set up what is known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC). How different is the moon's time zone from that of Earth? The time zone on the Moon won't be very similar to the standard time zones we have on Earth. Actually, Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will be an entire frame of time covering all the regions on the Moon. Since the gravity on the moon is less, time shifts a bit quickly - 58.7 microseconds every day – in comparison to Earth. Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC) will also provide scientists with a time-keeping benchmark for lunar satellites and spacecraft that require extreme precision for their missions. Also Read: Greenery on Moon soon? NASA to put plants on lunar surface by 2026 “An atomic clock on the moon will tick at a different rate than a clock on Earth,” said Kevin Coggins, a top communications and navigation official at NASA. “It makes sense that when you go to another body, like the moon or Mars, that each one gets its own heartbeat," he added. Why is Moon Standard Time important? In September 2026, NASA is planning to send its astronaut missions to the moon through its Artemis programme. They will also establish a scientific lunar base which can help set the stage for future missions to Mars. Various spacecraft, companies and countries are part of the effort. Speaking to Reuters, an OSTP official said that without a unified lunar time standard, the scientists will find it challenging to ensure that secured data transfers are taking place between spacecraft. It will also be difficult to synchronise communications among Earth, lunar satellites, bases and astronauts. Watch: Pluto: Should 'Pluto' be a planet again? The debate rages on According to the official, the discrepancies in time can also result in errors in mapping the moon and locating positions on or orbiting around the natural satellite. “Imagine if the world wasn’t syncing their clocks to the same time, how disruptive that might be and how challenging everyday things become,” said the official. (With inputs from agencies)

Earthlings will soon be able to calculate what time it is on the Moon. Here's how

What time is it in Lebanon? A decision by the country's PM has split Lebanon into 2 time zones. The spat is slowly turning religious. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: Lebanon split into 2 time zones

We humans often like to gaze up at the moon at midnight. But have you wondered what is the time up there? For those who are curious enough, you may soon have an answer. Watch this video to find out.

Will the moon get its own time zone?

Will the moon get its own time zone

North Korea will shift its time zone 30 minutes earlier to align with South Korea starting May 5 "as a first practical step for national reconciliation and unity," the North's state media said Monday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was "a painful wrench" to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue during the historic meeting Friday with President Moon Jae-in, KCNA said.

Meanwhile, China will send the government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, to visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the foreign ministry said on Monday.

The time change report confirmed news from South Korean officials on Sunday that Kim pledged to scrap the northern time zone, which was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two.

South Korea and Japan are in the same time zone, nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

"It is not an abstract meaning that the north and the south become one but it is just a process in which the north and the south turn their different and separated things into the same and single ones," Kim said, according to the dispatch.

At their summit Friday, Kim and Moon declared they would take steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended only with a truce, and work towards the "denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula. The declaration didn't offer any specifics on what that meant or how it would progress.

Much now hinges on Kim's upcoming summit with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, who said the meeting could happen over the next three to four weeks. No location has been announced.

Kim also told Moon he would soon invite experts and journalists from the United States and South Korea when the country dismantles its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, the Blue House said on Sunday.

North Korea has conducted all six of its nuclear tests at the site, a series of tunnels dug into the mountains in the northeastern part of the country. Some experts and researchers have speculated that the most recent - and by far largest - blast in September had rendered the entire site unusable.

But Kim said there were two additional, larger tunnels that remain "in very good condition" beyond the existing one, which experts believe may have collapsed.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday he told Kim during their secret meeting at the beginning of April that North Korea would have to agree to take "irreversible" steps toward shutting its nuclear weapons program in any deal with the United States.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was 'a painful wrench' to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue

North Korea will shift its time zone 30 minutes earlier to align with South Korea starting May 5 "as a first practical step for national reconciliation and unity," the North's state media said Monday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said it was "a painful wrench" to see two clocks showing different Pyongyang and Seoul times on a wall at the summit venue during the historic meeting Friday with President Moon Jae-in, KCNA said. Meanwhile, China will send the government's top diplomat, Wang Yi, to visit North Korea on Wednesday and Thursday this week, the foreign ministry said on Monday. The time change report confirmed news from South Korean officials on Sunday that Kim pledged to scrap the northern time zone, which was created in 2015 to mark the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule after World War Two. South Korea and Japan are in the same time zone, nine hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. "It is not an abstract meaning that the north and the south become one but it is just a process in which the north and the south turn their different and separated things into the same and single ones," Kim said, according to the dispatch. At their summit Friday, Kim and Moon declared they would take steps to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended only with a truce, and work towards the "denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula. The declaration didn't offer any specifics on what that meant or how it would progress. Much now hinges on Kim's upcoming summit with US President Donald Trump, who said the meeting could happen over the next three to four weeks. No location has been announced. Kim also told Moon he would soon invite experts and journalists from the United States and South Korea when the country dismantles its Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, the Blue House said on Sunday. North Korea has conducted all six of its nuclear tests at the site, a series of tunnels dug into the mountains in the northeastern part of the country. Some experts and researchers have speculated that the most recent - and by far largest - blast in September had rendered the entire site unusable. But Kim said there were two additional, larger tunnels that remain "in very good condition" beyond the existing one, which experts believe may have collapsed. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday he told Kim during their secret meeting at the beginning of April that North Korea would have to agree to take "irreversible" steps toward shutting its nuclear weapons program in any deal with the United States.

North Korea to align with South's time zone as first practical step toward reconciliation

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