Mars Runs Slightly Fast: New Research Reveals Time Discrepancies due to Gravity
WASHINGTON D.C. – Time isn’t constant across the solar system, according to a new study published in The Astronomical Journal. Researchers have discovered that time on Mars flows at a subtly different rate than on earth, a discrepancy driven by the gravitational influences of the Sun and the complex dance between earth and its moon. The findings are crucial for future crewed missions to the Red Planet, impacting everything from navigation to interaction.
The research, led by researchers including Patla, demonstrates that the Sun’s uneven gravitational pull on Earth and the Moon generates tidal forces that subtly alter the motion of both bodies. These changes, previously unaccounted for in many timing models, introduce errors in precise clock comparisons. Updating models to include these solar tides reduces timing errors in Earth-Moon calculations by nearly two orders of magnitude.
“It’s good to know for the first time what is happening on Mars time-wise,” said Patla, highlighting the significance of understanding these interplanetary time differences.
The effect also extends to Earth-Mars comparisons, revealing errors of approximately 100 nanoseconds per day over extended periods. While seemingly minuscule, this difference becomes increasingly importent as space missions expand and rely on accurate timing for navigation, communication, and scientific data tracking across vast distances.
The need for a standardized Martian time is becoming paramount. The inherent communication delays between Earth and Mars, already notable due to distance, are exacerbated by timing discrepancies. Researchers draw parallels to early sea voyages, where slow message delivery hindered coordination.A unified timing standard would enable near-real-time communication for future space crews.
“If you get synchronization, it will be almost like real-time communication without any loss of facts,” Patla explained.
Beyond practical applications, Mars is serving as a unique laboratory to test and refine our understanding of basic physics. The planet’s distinct gravitational environment provides a new testing ground for Einstein‘s theories of relativity, especially concerning “proper time” and its behavior under shifting gravity and complex orbital interactions.
Study co-author neil Ashby emphasized the long-term implications: “It may be decades before the surface of Mars is covered by the tracks of wandering rovers,” but this work is laying the groundwork for that future.
The research ultimately reveals how gravity and motion influence the very fabric of time on another world, shaping plans for human exploration and deepening our understanding of the universe. Future explorers will rely on clocks calibrated to account for these gravitational effects,guided by seconds shaped by the unique conditions far from home.
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/1538-3881/ae0c16
