Time passes faster on the Moon than on Earth

(Dan Tri) - Time on the Moon runs 56 microseconds faster than on Earth. This can cause a positioning error of up to 17 km per day.

The time difference between the Earth and the Moon is important for space missions that require high precision (Photo: Getty).

Using Einstein's theory of general relativity, physicists discovered that time runs 56 microseconds faster on the Moon than on Earth. That means that, on average, every 100,000 days (equivalent to 274 years), a person living on the Moon would age 5.6 seconds faster than a person living on Earth.

According to theoretical physicist Bijunath Patla, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the US, the reason this happens is because the Moon's movement compared to our movement makes the clock run slower than Earth's standards.

However, the Moon's lower gravity causes the clock to run faster. "These are two conflicting effects, and the result is a difference of about 56 microseconds per day," Patla said.

While the 56 microsecond difference is incredibly small by human standards, it is crucial for space missions that require high precision, as well as ensuring communication between Earth and the Moon.

“When it comes to navigation, a 56 microsecond delay in a day between a clock on the Moon and one on Earth is a big difference,” said Cheryl Gramling, a systems engineer at NASA.

It will be years or decades before the Moon has enough humans and robots to require this level of precision, but scientists and engineers have already recognized the importance of establishing a standard lunar time.

It is known that the ability to accurately locate at the present time relies on time synchronization, which involves the use of radio waves, transmitted at the speed of light.

Gramling noted that light travels a distance of 30 centimeters in 1 nanosecond (0.001 microsecond). This is an extremely short time by human standards.

Therefore, if we do not take into account the 56 microsecond difference, we are quite capable of causing a positioning error of up to 17 km per day.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/thoi-gian-tren-mat-trang-troi-qua-nhanh-hon-o-trai-dat-20241202063708705.htm