Convert Megayears to Gigayears
Convert Megayears (Ma) to Gigayears (Ga) instantly and accurately.
Conversion Formula
Ga = Ma × 0.001
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.
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.
Quick Reference Table
| Megayears (Ma) | Gigayears (Ga) |
|---|---|
| 1 Ma | 0.001 Ga |
| 2 Ma | 0.002 Ga |
| 5 Ma | 0.005 Ga |
| 10 Ma | 0.01 Ga |
| 25 Ma | 0.025 Ga |
| 50 Ma | 0.05 Ga |
| 100 Ma | 0.1 Ga |