Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)

Last week, the US White House officially directed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to create a time standard for the Moon, which different international bodies and private companies can use to coordinate their activities on the lunar surface.

About Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC)

Purpose:	Provide an accurate time-keeping benchmark for lunar spacecraft and satellites. Synchronize communications between satellites, astronauts, bases, and Earth. To facilitate coordination of operations, transaction reliability and logistics management in lunar commerce.
Reason for LTC:	Since gravity is less on the Moon, time there passes slightly faster than time on Earth.

Earth's Time Standard:

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC):	The basis for most clocks and time zones worldwide. Set by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris, France. It is tracked by a weighted average of more than 400 atomic clocks placed in different parts of the globe.
Atomic Clocks:	Measure time based on resonant frequencies of atoms, such as cesium-133. A second is defined as the period in which a cesium atom vibrates 9,192,631,770 times. Highly stable and ultra-accurate, making atomic clocks excellent for gauging time.
Local Time Calculation:	Countries determine their local time by adding or subtracting a specific number of hours from UTC depending on their distance from the 0-degree longitude meridian (Greenwich meridian). Countries west of the Greenwich meridian subtract from UTC, while those east of the meridian add to it.

FAQs:

Q: What Is Greenwich meridian?

1. The Greenwich Meridian is an imaginary line that runs from the North Pole to the South Pole.
2. It's also known as the Prime Meridian and is the reference line for measuring longitude on Earth.
3. The Greenwich Meridian is the zero reference line for astronomical observations.
4. It divides the Earth into eastern and western hemispheres.
5. The Prime Meridian at Greenwich has been the reference line for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) since the late 19th century.
6. The Greenwich Meridian is marked by the cross-hairs in the Airy Transit Circle eyepiece, a telescope located at the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
7.  It was established as the Prime Meridian in 1884 and used as the international standard for timekeeping and navigation until 1974.

Q: What is an Atomic Clock?

1. Atomic clocks are timekeeping devices that measure time by monitoring the resonant frequency of atoms.
2. They are the most accurate time and frequency standards in use, and have many applications in industry, commerce, and science
3. Atomic clocks are used in many applications that require precise timing, such as GPS systems and scientific research.

For example, NASA uses atomic clocks in GPS satellites that orbit the Earth. However, these clocks must be updated twice a day to correct for their natural drift, using more stable atomic clocks

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