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science22h ago
What Time Is It on Mars? NIST Physicists Have the Answer.
- NIST finds Mars clocks run about 477 microseconds faster per day than Earth clocks, a key finding for future interplanetary timing.
- The difference can vary by as much as 226 microseconds daily due to Mars’ orbit and nearby gravitational influences.
- Researchers say timing on Mars is essential for synchronizing navigation and communications with Earth and future missions.
- The study, published online in The Astronomical Journal, builds on prior work on lunar timekeeping.
- The reference point for Mars time estimates was a Martian surface location modeled from mission data.
- Timing precision could enable near real-time-like communications across solar-system networks.
- Extraneous forces such as the Sun, Earth, and Moon contribute to the timing variability on Mars.
- The work aims to support future space missions by improving timekeeping and synchronization.
- Clocks on Mars and Earth will diverge by a measurable amount due to relativistic effects.
- The Astronomical Journal paper by Neil Ashby and Bijunath R. Patla details the Mars time study.
- Timekeeping research on Mars complements ongoing work on lunar and terrestrial clock synchronization.
- NIST scientist Bijunath Patla emphasizes the broader goal of expanding solar-system networks.
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