Latimoa

Latimoa is a fictional celestial body featured in the science fiction novel "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. Within the narrative, Latimoa is a planet located in the Tau Ceti star system, approximately 12 light-years from Earth. It is characterized by its extreme environment, including a highly corrosive atmosphere and intense stellar radiation.

The planet is the home world of the Astrophage, a microscopic, silicon-based lifeform that consumes stellar energy and is the central antagonist of the novel. Astrophage are responsible for the dimming of Earth's sun, posing an existential threat to humanity. Latimoa is the only known planet in the Tau Ceti system capable of sustaining Astrophage populations due to specific atmospheric conditions and the presence of necessary minerals.

The novel describes Latimoa as a barren and hostile world, unsuitable for complex life as understood on Earth. Its surface is subject to violent storms and unpredictable geological activity, further exacerbating its inhospitable nature. Despite its harshness, Latimoa plays a crucial role in the plot as the origin point of the Astrophage and a key location for the novel's scientific exploration and problem-solving. The challenges presented by Latimoa's environment are integral to the scientific endeavors undertaken by the protagonist.