What is Lunar time?
'''Lunar time''' refers to the time on a clock on the [[moon]]. As of early 2023, there is no standard for lunar time. Instead, the time on the moon is different for each country involved. Thus, American activities on the moon run on a U.S. time zone, and Chinese activities on the moon run on [[China Standard Time]]. As more countries explore the moon and interact with each other, a new unified system will be needed.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-00185-z | doi=10.1038/d41586-023-00185-z | title=What time is it on the Moon? | year=2023 | last1=Gibney | first1=Elizabeth | journal=Nature | volume=614 | issue=7946 | pages=13–14 | pmid=36693973 | bibcode=2023Natur.614...13G | s2cid=256230630 }}</ref> Another problem with using Earth's time zones is that [[time dilation|time runs slightly faster]] on the moon than on Earth. This affects computers and other high-precision electronic systems. In 2024, the U.S. [[White House]] asked [[NASA]] to create a unified standard time for the Moon and for other celestial bodies by 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/science/space/nasa-confirms-its-developing-the-moons-new-time-zone-165345568.html|title=NASA confirms it's developing the Moon's new time zone|website=Engadget|access-date=2024-10-11|date=2024-09-13|last=Shanklin|first=Will}}</ref> The [[European Space Agency]] has proposed a lunar reference time for the moon to solve this issue.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/should-the-moon-have-a-time-zone-europe-pushes-for-lunar-reference-time/3510971/ | title=Should the Moon Have a Time Zone? Europe Pushes for 'Lunar Reference Time' |website=NBC Philadelphia}}</ref> ==References== <references /> [[Category:Time]] [[Category:Moon]]