Archive · 14 Jan 2026
Mars Time Ticks Differently Than Earth
Scientists have found that time on Mars ticks a tiny bit faster than on Earth.
This is because Mars is farther from the Sun and has weaker gravity.
A day on Mars is about 40 minutes longer than on Earth, and a year on Mars is almost twice as long.
The scientists used Einstein's theory of relativity to figure this out.
They had to consider how the Sun and other planets affect Mars' orbit.
This is important for future missions to Mars because they need to keep accurate time there.
Clocks on Mars tick 477 microseconds faster per day than on Earth due to weaker gravity and orbital differences.
The time difference can vary by up to 226 microseconds per day throughout the Martian year.
A Martian day is roughly 40 minutes longer than an Earth day, and a Martian year lasts 687 Earth days.
Scientists used Einstein's theory of relativity to calculate the precise offset between Martian and Earth time.
The study builds on a 2024 paper proposing a framework for ultra-precise timekeeping on the Moon.
- Who
- Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- What
- Clocks on Mars tick 477 microseconds faster per day than clocks on Earth
- When
- The study was recently published in The Astronomical Journal
- Where
- Mars and Earth
- Why
- Due to Mars' stretched orbit and gravitational influences from other bodies
- Time Difference
- 477 microseconds per day
- Variation
- Up to 226 microseconds per day
- Martian Day
- 40 minutes longer than Earth day
- Martian Year
- 687 Earth days
- Mars Gravity
- About five times weaker than Earth's
- Reference Point
- Specific point on Mars similar to Earth's sea level
- Study Published
- The Astronomical Journal
- Researchers
- NIST physicists Bijunath Patla and Neil Ashby