JargonFile/entries/attoparsec.txt
2014-04-26 16:54:15 +01:00

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attoparsec
n. About an inch. atto- is the standard SI prefix for multiplication by 10
-18. A parsec (parallax-second) is 3.26 light-years; an attoparsec is thus
3.26 10 -18 light years, or about 3.1 cm (thus, 1 attoparsec/
microfortnight equals about 1 inch/sec). This unit is reported to be in use
(though probably not very seriously) among hackers in the U.K. See micro-.