No, when an astronaut is on the moon, they are not in a time zone in the same way that we have time zones on Earth. On Earth, time zones are based on the rotation of the planet, dividing it into different regions with consistent local times. However, the moon has a different rotation and orbital pattern compared to Earth.
The moon's rotation period is about 27.3 Earth days, which is approximately the same as its orbital period around the Earth. As a result, the same side of the moon always faces the Earth. This means that there is no day-night cycle as we experience it on Earth, where the rotation of the planet causes the alternation between day and night.
During a lunar mission, such as the Apollo missions that landed astronauts on the moon, the astronauts operated on a schedule that was based on coordinated universal time (UTC) or mission time. UTC is a global time standard used in various scientific, aviation, and space operations. It helps maintain consistency and synchronization across different locations and time zones on Earth.
While on the moon's surface, the astronauts would generally follow a mission timeline that would be planned and coordinated with ground control centers on Earth. Their activities and schedules would be determined based on mission requirements, objectives, and the available resources and equipment.
So, in summary, instead of being in a specific time zone, astronauts on the moon would typically operate on a mission time or UTC basis, which is coordinated with ground control.