# Question about UTC time (related to upcoming moon landing anniversary) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 15, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125 "2009-07-15T16:43:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Tompkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/258eb7/32.png) [@Jeff\_Tompkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Tompkins)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/1 "2009-07-15T16:43:44Z")
I’m having trouble figuring out how to convert UTC time to Eastern time zone. Anyone know how to do that? The online conversion sites I’ve found don’t seem to be doing it correctly (or I’m not doing it correctly). Armstrong stepped on the moon at 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969, but that was still July 20 here in the Eastern US. I’m trying to figure out exactly what time that would have been, to mark the exact 40th anniversary moment. Thanks for any input. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/2 "2009-07-15T16:53:05Z")
> [@](#): > > Since radio signals can cross multiple time zones and the international date line, some worldwide standard for time and date is needed. This standard is coordinated universal time, abbreviated UTC. This was formerly known as Greenwich mean time (GMT). Other terms used to refer to it include “Zulu time” (after the “Z” often used after UTC times), “universal time,” and “world time.” > **[UTC GMT Conversion](https://www.dxing.com/utcgmt.htm)** > > UTC GMT Time Conversion Check the tables on the web page. US EDT is four hours behind UTC. So 2:56 UTC July 21, 1969 converts to 10:56 pm EDT, 20 July 1969. You can also commemorate the event by going here —\> [http://wechoosethemoon.org/](http://wechoosethemoon.org/) It’s a real-time, interactive recreation from the JFK Library. As I type this we are less than 24 hours from launch. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Tompkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/258eb7/32.png) [@Jeff\_Tompkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Tompkins)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/3 "2009-07-15T16:54:50Z")
Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/4 "2009-07-15T16:59:46Z")
Remember that UTC does not go on daylight savings time. At the moment, it’s an hour behind GMT, but will match again this winter. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/5 "2009-07-15T17:29:07Z")
GMT doesn’t go on daylight saving time, either. The only difference between UTC and GMT is the odd leap-second here and there. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/6 "2009-07-15T19:00:54Z")
GMT != BST, in other words. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-utc-time-related-to-upcoming-moon-landing-anniversary/503125/7 "2009-07-16T09:31:25Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > GMT != BST, in other words. 😉 Right - as I type this it is 10.30am UK time (BST), which is 9.30am GMT, also 9.30am UTC, so that’s 5.30am EDT.