How LV-223 Differs From LV-426 (2024)

In Ridley Scott’s Alien universe, there are two moons that play a huge role in the history of the xenomorphs and the most important happenings of the films and the world: LV-223 and LV-426. In Alien (1979) the crew of the Nostromo visits LV-426 only to discovera xenomorph and have it almost kill them. Many years before that in the prequel,Prometheus (2012), the crew of the Prometheus landed on LV-223 and discovered the Engineers and the structure they created there.

LV-223 and LV-426 are two of the three known moons of the gas giant Calpamos, located in the Zeta2 Reticuli system. While the two moons may have originally featured similar climates, by the time they are visited in the films, LV-223 is covered by a lush jungle filled with endemic life, most likely due to the Engineers’ actions there. Conversely, LV-426 is almost completely barren, featuring a rocky, mountainous terrain with no known native life.

Related: Alien’s Original Xenomorph Origin (Before Prometheus)

Throughout the Alien series, the characters revisit these moons, but they are most specifically highlighted in Alien and its prequel Prometheus. How are these moons similar and how are they different? Thanks to the extensive research done by the Alien fandom compiling information fromthe movies, comics, novels, short films and all sources canonto the franchise, there’s a lot of information available to compare and contrast.

LV-223: History & Description

LV-223 features an atmosphere almost identical to that of Earth, with a much higher concentration of carbon dioxide, 3.7%, making it toxic for humans to breathe. The weather there is described as being very harsh with complex weather changes and natural silica storms. Endemic life includes monkey-like creatures, deacon sharks, and mutated factions of ants, though these life forms may have arisen from the interference of the Engineers and may not actually be native.

It’s unknown exactly when the history of LV-223 begins, but the planet was first settled by the Engineers far before any of the Alien films take place. The ancient aliens built an outpost on LV-223, most likely some sort of military base designed to build biological weapons before an incident compromised their operation and they were wiped out. This idea is asserted by Captain Janek, Idris Elba’s character in Prometheus.

In 2179, xenomorphs arrived on LV-223 with the Onager, the ship piloted by Hadley’s Hope settlers when they tried to escape the xenomorph infestation on LV-426. These xenomorphs remained trapped in the ship until they were released in 2219, by the crew of the Geryon, a ship which appears inPrometheus: Fire and Stone, and comes to the moon in search of the missing USCSS Prometheus.

Related:

LV-426: History & Description

How LV-223 Differs From LV-426 (2)

LV-426’s atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen and carbon dioxide, with smaller quantities of oxygen, methane, and ammonia. Its smaller size yet slightly decreased gravity in comparison to Earth suggest that it is composed of very dense materials, while basalt, rhyolite and microgranite lava flows indicate a history of volcanic activity, though no ongoing volcanic or tectonic activity remains in any of the Alien canon. The moon is constantly racked by strong winds, though the small size makes it impossible for large, dangerous storms to form.

In order of the films, LV-426 is the first planet that the audience experiences, as the crew of the Nostromo are lured down to its surface by a mysterious distress call in Alien (1979). This is the planet where the xenomorph eggs are discovered by the crew and where John Hurt’s character, Kane, is attacked by the facehugger.While on the planet’s surface, the Nostromo’s crew discovers a derelict ship, later discovered to belong to the Engineers, though the crew never discovers this in the film. In Alien, the crew finds the space jockey in the ship’s control room, but no other signs of life within the massive structure until they come upon a bay filled with xenomorph eggs.

After the events of Alienand before the events of Aliens (1986), a human settlement was formed on LV-426 and the moon was renamed Acheron by its early inhabitants. The main colonist base on Acheron, Hadley's Hope, housed 158 people before they were killed by the xenomorphs.

Next: The Best Rewatch Order For The Alien Movies

  • Horror
  • Alien
  • Prometheus (2012)

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How LV-223 Differs From LV-426 (2024)

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