teratons
A teraton is a unit of mass in the metric system, representing one trillion (10^12) tonnes. A tonne is a metric ton, equal to 1000 kilograms. Therefore, a teraton is equivalent to 10^15 kilograms. This unit is exceptionally large and is typically used in contexts involving astronomical masses. For instance, the mass of some celestial bodies, such as asteroids or small moons, might be measured in teratons. It is a highly specialized unit, rarely encountered in everyday scientific discourse or general public awareness. The prefix "tera-" signifies a trillion, making it a convenient way to express these immense quantities without resorting to excessively long strings of zeros or scientific notation in some contexts. Its usage is primarily confined to fields like planetary science and astrophysics where such vast scales are common. While not as frequently cited as units like kilograms or tonnes, the teraton serves its purpose in accurately quantifying the mass of large astronomical objects within the solar system and beyond.