Convert Gigayears to Megayears
Convert Gigayears (Ga) to Megayears (Ma) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
Ma = Ga × 1000
About Gigayears
A gigayear (1 Ga) = 10⁹ yr ≈ 3.156 × 10¹⁶ s - the timescale of stellar evolution and cosmology. Universe age: 13.787 ± 0.020 Ga (Planck CMB). Sun: 4.603 Ga old; red giant in ~5 Ga. A 0.1 M☉ red dwarf lives ~10,000 Ga. Uranium-238 half-life = 4.468 Ga (used in radiometric dating). Proton decay (GUT prediction): ~10³⁴ yr = ~10²⁵ Ga. 1 Ga = 10⁹ yr.
About Megayears
A megayear (1 Ma) = 10⁶ yr ≈ 3.156 × 10¹³ s - the timescale of geology and tectonic evolution. The K-Pg mass extinction at 66.0 Ma; Cambrian explosion ~538.8 Ma; Great Oxygenation Event ~2,400 Ma. Plate motion at 2-10 cm/yr = 200-1,000 km per Ma (Atlantic ~3,000 km wider since Pangaea rifting ~200 Ma ago). Background extinction rate measured in extinctions per million species-years. 1 Ma = 10⁶ yr.
Quick Reference Table
| Gigayears (Ga) | Megayears (Ma) |
|---|---|
| 1 Ga | 1000 Ma |
| 2 Ga | 2000 Ma |
| 5 Ga | 5000 Ma |
| 10 Ga | 10000 Ma |
| 25 Ga | 25000 Ma |
| 50 Ga | 50000 Ma |
| 100 Ga | 100000 Ma |