Chinese researchers have announced the release of the world’s first software designed specifically for lunar navigation, as the global race to the moon accelerates. The tool aims to support precise navigation and landings by addressing the growing challenge of timekeeping beyond Earth.

According to researchers, clocks tick faster on the moon than on Earth because of weaker gravity. This difference amounts to about 56 millionths of a second per day. While small, the gap accumulates over time, making Earth-based time increasingly unreliable for sustained lunar operations.

To solve this, a team from the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing revealed that they developed a model that accounts for both the moon’s weaker gravity and its motion through space. As a result, events on the moon can be accurately synchronized with clocks used on Earth.

The researchers reported that the method remained accurate to within a few tens of nanoseconds even when projected over a period of 1,000 years. In addition, they packaged the model into ready-to-use software to simplify calculations.

The team announced that the software allows users to compare lunar time and Earth time in a single step, instead of relying on complex mathematical corrections. They added that the goal is to make lunar timekeeping practical as missions to the moon become more frequent.

The software has been named LTE440, short for Lunar Time Ephemeris. However, the researchers noted that it represents an early step and will need further development to support real-time lunar navigation and future lunar clock networks.

In the past, engineers relied on Earth time for lunar missions and applied corrections when required. However, researchers said this approach is no longer sufficient as lunar exploration activity increases.

Key features highlighted by the researchers include:

• Accurate comparison between lunar and Earth time
• Long-term precision for future lunar navigation systems
• A foundation for real-time lunar clock networks

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