December 1, 2025
Ask someone on Earth for the time and they can give you an exact answer, thanks to our planet’s intricate timekeeping system, built with atomic clocks, GPS satellites and high-speed telecommunications networks.
However, Einstein showed us that clocks don’t tick at the same rate across the universe. Clocks will run slightly faster or slower depending on the strength of gravity in their environment, making it tricky to synchronize our watches here on Earth, let alone across the vast solar system. If humans want to establish a long-term presence on the red planet, scientists need to know: What time is it on Mars?
Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have calculated a precise answer for the first time.
Source: https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/12/what-time-it-mars-nist-physicists-have-answer
