kaavana

Kaavana is a fictional planet featured in the science fiction novel "Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir. The planet is home to a sentient, silicon-based alien species known as the Eridians. Kaavana orbits the star Tau Ceti, a star system that plays a crucial role in the plot of the novel. The environment of Kaavana is characterized by extreme cold and a thin, ammonia-rich atmosphere, conditions that are hostile to carbon-based lifeforms like humans. The Eridians have adapted to these harsh conditions, developing unique biological and technological solutions for survival. Their planet is a significant location within the narrative, as it is the source of the Astrophage, a microscopic organism that is consuming the Sun's energy and threatening Earth. The Eridian species, and by extension Kaavana, are central to the protagonist's mission to save humanity. The details of Kaavana's geography and specific atmospheric composition are described to highlight the alien nature of its inhabitants and their evolutionary path. The novel presents Kaavana not just as a setting, but as a critical element in the scientific puzzle the protagonist must solve.