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The Moon to Have Its Own Time Zone

Exciting news has emerged from the White House this week, as officials have directed NASA to begin work on establishing a standard time for the Moon. This new initiative, known as Coordinated Lunar Time (LTC), is set to revolutionize lunar exploration and ensure synchronization between various activities planned under the Artemis program.

Timekeeping plays a crucial role in space travel by facilitating accurate orbital maneuvers, secure communications between spacecraft, and error prevention in positioning and mapping. Without a standardized time system, lunar exploration would become significantly more complicated.

One of the key challenges in timekeeping in space is the effect of time dilation, as predicted by Einstein’s theory of relativity. Kevin Coggins, NASA’s space communications and navigation chief, explained that clocks on the Moon move faster than their Earthly counterparts by 58.7 microseconds per day. While this may seem negligible to humans, it can have a significant impact on spacecraft operations.

Currently, spacecraft in low Earth orbit, including GPS satellites and the International Space Station, operate based on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, periodic corrections are required for time dilation to ensure the precision and functionality of GPS systems.

During the Apollo program’s moon missions in the 1960s-70s, astronauts relied on Houston time as their reference point. However, with the Artemis program set to involve multiple countries and private companies in long-term lunar exploration, a shared timekeeping system becomes essential for coordination and efficiency.

NASA is expected to collaborate internationally to establish LTC, similar to the management of UTC by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. The proposal for LTC, outlined in the White House memo, acknowledges the need for international agreements and suggests leveraging existing international bodies or platforms like the Artemis Accords for cooperation in space exploration.

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With plans for LTC set to be finalized by the end of 2026, the future of lunar exploration looks promising with a standardized time system in place. This innovative initiative will not only enhance the efficiency of lunar missions but also pave the way for collaborative international efforts in space exploration.

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This news has excited space enthusiasts and experts worldwide, as it marks a significant stride towards a more synchronized and coordinated approach to lunar exploration.

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.