International Astronomy Group Joins Calls for Lunar Clock to Keep Time on Moon

An image of the moon is projected at the Iziko Planetarium in Cape Town, South Africa, as part of the World Astronomy Conference, on Aug. 13, 2024. Nardus Engelbrecht/AP Photo

WASHINGTON—Time moves a tad faster on the moon. Now an international group of astronomers has joined calls to give the moon its own clock so that future space missions can keep track of minutes on the celestial body.

The International Astronomical Union voted Thursday encouraging space organizations across the globe to collaborate on a timekeeping standard for the moon, where one day lasts 29.5 Earth days.