Mariatra
Mariatra is a fictional planet located in the Cygnus X-1 system, as depicted in the science fiction novel "The Andromeda Strain" by Michael Crichton. In the narrative, Mariatra is a world previously inhabited by an advanced civilization that was wiped out by a biological agent, which is also the central threat in the novel. The planet's inhabitants, known as the Mariatrans, developed sophisticated technology and engaged in space exploration. However, their civilization met a catastrophic end, leaving behind their advanced but abandoned technology and a warning about the dangers of unchecked biological experimentation.
The discovery of Mariatra and the remnants of its civilization serves as a crucial plot device in