Gya and
Ga, are symbols for
units of
time, specifically
gigayears ago and
gigaannum (or
giga-annum), respectively. They represent 10
9 (1,000,000,000) years. Ga is the base unit, and Gya is relative to the present. The
G in both symbols (but not the
g in
giga-, unabbreviated) is conventionally capitalized. Both symbols are pronounced by sounding out their letters,
g-a and
g-y-a, or by giving their unabbreviated forms. The terms are often used in
geology,
paleontology,
geophysics, and
astronomy disciplines including
celestial mechanics.