8legs: Earth

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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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