Yavin 4

Objects shown in this view

Deep Core (galactic core · supermassive black hole)

The densest, brightest region of the galaxy, packed with stars and deadly hyperspace eddies: a lensing black hole at its heart, with relativistic plasma jets from its poles. The dense starfield and unpredictable hyperspace currents make navigating the Deep Core extremely dangerous; many ships have vanished here without a trace. It's home to several legendary ancient worlds, including Had Abbadon and Prakith, homeworlds of some of the galaxy's oldest civilizations. Under the Empire it was a tightly controlled region, requiring special clearance to enter. Its intense radiation and stellar density make it uninhabitable for most species, though a few specially adapted civilizations call it home.

Coruscant (city planet (ecumenopolis))

Capital of the Republic and later the Empire: one city covers the entire surface, thousands of levels deep. Its original surface has vanished entirely under construction; the planet's 'lower levels' are dark, lawless districts. It's home to the Jedi Temple, the Jedi Order's headquarters for millennia, later converted into the Emperor's Palace. The Senate Building (the Republic Dome) housed the galaxy's governing body before its fall. Chancellor, later Emperor, Palpatine directed the galaxy's transformation from Republic to Empire from here. It's a key setting across the prequel trilogy (Episodes I-III) and The Clone Wars series, hosting many pivotal scenes. It served as the galaxy's political, economic and cultural center for millennia, the most densely populated planet.

Alderaan (terrestrial planet)

Princess Leia’s peaceful homeworld, destroyed by the first Death Star. It's destroyed in the opening act of A New Hope (Episode IV), the first demonstration of the first Death Star's destructive power. Its people were known as a peaceful, cultured society, and the planet had an anti-weapons political stance. It was ruled by the royal House of Organa, and was Princess Leia's adoptive home. Its destruction is one of the defining moments of the Star Wars saga, ultimately galvanizing the Rebel Alliance's victory at the Battle of Yavin. The debris field left behind is later referred to in stories as 'the Alderaan wreck'.

Corellia (terrestrial planet)

Han Solo’s homeworld and home of the galaxy’s most famous shipyards. The Corellian Engineering Corporation built many of the galaxy's famous ships here, including the YT-1300 line that includes the Millennium Falcon. Scenes in Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) take place on, or reference, the planet. Corellians are known for their piloting and engineering talent, with many working as smugglers or pilots along the galaxy's frontiers. The planet is the hub of the five Corellian Systems, which together formed an important trade and industrial center.

Kashyyyk (forest planet)

Homeworld of the Wookiees and of Chewbacca, with kilometre-tall wroshyr trees. During the Clone Wars it was the site of a battle depicted in Episode III (Revenge of the Sith), with clone troopers fighting alongside the Wookiees. Wookiee culture is communal and arboreal, with cities built high in the massive wroshyr trees above the jungle floor. Order 66, which triggered the galaxy-wide massacre of the Jedi, was issued during the events on this planet in Episode III. After the Empire's rise, Wookiees were enslaved for decades under Imperial rule before eventually being freed. The planet's dense jungles host dangerous predators (like the katarn), which shaped the Wookiees into especially strong and fearless warriors.

Mandalore (terrestrial planet)

Cradle of the Mandalorian warrior culture. This is the Way. Mandalorian armor, forged from beskar metal, is passed down through generations and is one of the culture's most important symbols. The planet's history is marked by conflict, including the Mandalorian Wars fought during the era of the Old Republic. The Mandalorian series, through the character Din Djarin, gives audiences a closer look at Mandalorian culture and creed. The Empire nearly wiped out the planet's surface and population during the Night of a Thousand Tears (the Great Purge). Mandalorians aren't a single species but a warrior culture and way of life that members of many species can adopt.

Dathomir (terrestrial planet)

Homeworld of the Nightsisters and Darth Maul: red mists and dark magick. The Nightsisters are an all-female coven who practice a unique, magic-infused form of the dark side known as 'nightsister magick'. Darth Maul and his brother Savage Opress were both born on this planet and raised by the Nightsisters. The planet's atmosphere tints its sky red, lending the landscape an ominous, mystical feel. Multiple episodes of The Clone Wars series are set on Dathomir, exploring the culture of the Nightsisters and the Nightbrothers (the clan's male members). The rancors native to the planet, giant reptilian predators, also served as war beasts for the Nightsisters.

Yavin 4 (jungle moon)

Base of the Rebel Alliance, where the attack on the first Death Star was launched. The moon's ancient temples were actually structures built by a long-vanished civilization, the Massassi, which the Rebels repurposed as a base. The climactic battle of A New Hope (Episode IV), the Battle of Yavin, takes place here, where Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star. The moon orbits the massive gas giant Yavin, which appears as a dramatic backdrop in the planet's sky. Its dense jungles are home to dangerous wildlife, adding hazards to life at the Rebel base. The victory celebration (the medal ceremony scene) at the end of A New Hope also takes place on this moon.

Naboo (terrestrial planet)

Homeworld of Padmé Amidala and Palpatine; Gungan cities hide in its depths. Humans live on the surface, while the Gungan people live in underwater cities in the planet's core, with Otoh Gunga as their capital. It's the main setting of Episode I (The Phantom Menace), including the naval blockade and the film's climactic battle. Palpatine, the future Emperor, was also born on Naboo before rising to power as the Republic's senator and later Chancellor. The planet's capital, Theed, is known for its waterfalls and classical architecture. Padmé Amidala represented Naboo as both queen and senator, before becoming Anakin Skywalker's wife.

Tatooine (desert planet)

A desert scorched by twin suns, home of Anakin and Luke Skywalker. Its two suns (Tatoo I and Tatoo II) produce the iconic double sunset, one of Star Wars' most recognizable visual motifs. We first meet Luke Skywalker here in A New Hope, raised by his aunt and uncle on the Lars moisture farm. Anakin Skywalker was also born here into slavery before the Jedi Order discovered and freed him. The planet was also ruled in part by the notorious gangster Jabba the Hutt, where Han Solo was frozen in carbonite. Its lawless, frontier character makes it a favored hideout for smugglers, mercenaries and bounty hunters.

Geonosis (rocky planet)

Site of the first battle of the Clone Wars, and where the Death Star was designed. The climactic battle of Episode II (Attack of the Clones) takes place here, where the Jedi first lead a clone army into battle. The insectoid Geonosians mass-produced the Trade Federation's droid army in vast factory complexes. Design work on the Death Star began here, backed by Geonosian leader Poggle the Lesser and the Separatists. The planet's surface features towering rock spires and cave systems that the Geonosians use as nests.

Ryloth (terrestrial planet)

Homeworld of the Twi’leks. One hemisphere forever faces its sun. Due to its tidal lock, the habitable zone is only a narrow twilight strip between its permanent day and night sides. The Twi'lek people's distinctive head-tails (lekku) are an important tool for communication and expressing emotion. The Clone Wars series depicts the liberation of Ryloth from Separatist occupation, led by Cham Syndulla. Twi'leks were frequently victims of the galaxy's slave trade, a tragic chapter in the species' history.

Kamino (ocean planet)

A storm-lashed waterworld beyond the Rishi Maze, where the clone army was grown. The planet was missing from Jedi Archive star charts, a deleted entry Obi-Wan Kenobi uncovers in Episode II. The Kaminoans, the planet's tall, slender natives, are renowned for their advanced genetic engineering and cloning expertise. The clone army was grown from the genetic template of Jango Fett, who was also the adoptive father of bounty hunter Boba Fett. Nearly the entire surface is covered by ocean, with Kaminoans living in cities built on stilts above the water. After the Clone Wars began, the Republic (and later the Empire) relied on this planet for years to supply new clone troopers.

Hoth (ice planet)

Home of Echo Base and site of the Rebellion’s most famous retreat. Discovered by the Empire, Echo Base had to be evacuated - the Battle of Hoth opens The Empire Strikes Back (Episode V). Tauntauns, creatures native to the icy planet, served as one of the Rebels' modes of transport across the frozen terrain. The Imperial AT-AT walkers' assault here is one of the most iconic battle sequences in Star Wars film history. Luke Skywalker is attacked by a wampa, a polar-bear-like predator, early in the film before Han Solo rescues him. The Rebels' cold-weather gear, worn to survive the planet's extreme cold, later became an iconic costume element of the franchise.

Bespin (gas giant)

Cloud City floats in its atmosphere, where “I am your father” was spoken. Cloud City is a floating mining colony that extracts rare gases (tibanna gas) from the planet's atmosphere. Lando Calrissian, an old friend of Han Solo, administered the city before the Empire seized control on Darth Vader's orders. Han Solo is frozen in carbonite here before being sold to Jabba the Hutt. The famous duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader takes place here, where Vader reveals he is Luke's father. Its floating structure suspended in a gas giant's atmosphere makes it a unique setting in the Star Wars galaxy.

Dagobah (swamp planet)

Master Yoda’s place of exile. “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” Yoda went into exile here after the events of Episode III, following Order 66 and the fall of the Jedi Order. The planet is also strong with the dark side: in a cave, Luke Skywalker confronts his deepest fears during his training. Its dense swamps and foggy atmosphere make it a difficult, hard-to-navigate terrain. Luke Skywalker begins his Jedi training here under Master Yoda during the events of The Empire Strikes Back. Even after his death (at the end of Return of the Jedi), Yoda remains on the planet as a Force spirit, where he had lived.

Mustafar (volcanic planet)

Site of Obi-Wan and Anakin’s duel; later home to Vader’s fortress. The climactic duel of Episode III (Revenge of the Sith) takes place here, where Anakin Skywalker suffers the severe burns that make him Darth Vader. The planet is defined by constant volcanic eruptions and rivers of molten lava, leaving its surface nearly uninhabitable. Anakin kills the Separatist leaders here on Palpatine's orders, just before the duel with Obi-Wan. Darth Vader later built his own fortress here, which also became a site of clone experiments (as seen in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series). The planet is rich in minerals, especially iron, making it a mining target for the Empire as well.

Endor (forest moon)

Home of the Ewoks. The second Death Star was destroyed above it. The climactic battle of Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) unfolds here: the ground battle with the Ewoks and the space battle happen simultaneously. The Ewoks are small, bear-like, tree-dwelling people who initially resist but ultimately ally with the Rebels. The moon hosts the second Death Star's shield generator, whose destruction was key to the Empire's defeat. Its dense, ancient forests and tree-built Ewok villages give the moon a warmer, more welcoming feel compared to the franchise's starker settings. After the battle, the Rebel Alliance celebrates its victory over the Empire here.

Jakku (desert planet)

Graveyard of the Empire’s final battle, and Rey’s home. The Battle of Jakku was the last major engagement between the Empire and the New Republic, officially ending the Galactic Civil War. The vast fields of wreckage (downed Star Destroyers) left behind by the battle still dot the planet's landscape decades later. Rey, the protagonist of the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX), grows up here as a scavenger before being drawn into the galaxy's larger events. Its bleak desert landscapes deliberately echo other desert worlds in the franchise, like Tatooine, as a visual parallel.

Exegol (Sith world)

Hidden throne of the Sith Eternal, found only with a Sith wayfinder. Episode IX (The Rise of Skywalker) reveals that Palpatine secretly survived his death here, sustaining himself through cloned bodies. Beneath the planet's surface lay a massive Sith fleet (the 'Final Order') that Palpatine had secretly built over decades. It can only be found with a special navigation device, the Sith wayfinder, which the story's characters spend much of the film searching for. The Sith Eternal are an ancient Sith cult who, hidden on this world, guarded the secrets of the dark side for centuries.

Kessel (mining planet)

Home of the spice mines and the Kessel Run: twelve parsecs, if you fly the Falcon. The famous 'twelve parsecs' line actually refers to a shortened route (a distance, not a time) past nearby black holes, a route only the fastest ships and pilots dare attempt. The planet's spice mines were worked for centuries by slaves forced into labor by the Hutt clans. In Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), Han Solo and Lando Calrissian take part in a famous Kessel Run. The 'coaxium' spice mined here was an extremely unstable and valuable fuel source prized by smugglers across the galaxy.

Death Star I (battle station)

A planet-killing superlaser, destroyed by Luke Skywalker’s proton torpedo at the Battle of Yavin. Design work began as far back as the Clone Wars, started by the Separatists on Geonosis before the Empire completed and deployed it. A single shot destroyed the planet Alderaan, demonstrating its destructive power to the galaxy. Its sole weakness was a small thermal exhaust port, through which Luke Skywalker struck the main reactor. The station was designed under duress by Galen Erso, whose daughter Jyn Erso later helped get the plans to the Rebels (Rogue One). Despite its size, its crew numbered in the millions, including soldiers, technicians and Imperial officers. Its plans were stolen by the Rebel Alliance in the Rogue One mission, whose crew gave their lives to get the schematics out. At about 120 km across, it's large enough to have its own artificial gravity aboard. It operated under the command of Grand Moff Tarkin, who personally ordered Alderaan's destruction to intimidate the Senate. Its construction took decades and consumed enormous resources, straining the economies of several planets under Imperial rule. Princess Leia was also held prisoner aboard it for interrogation, before Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca broke her out.

Death Star II (battle station)

Fully operational even unfinished, it was lost with the Emperor at the Battle of Endor. Larger and more powerful than its predecessor, it could destroy planets even while still under construction (as threatened against Kashyyyk). Its shield generator was based on the forest moon of Endor, and its destruction enabled the Rebel fleet's attack. It's destroyed in the climactic battle of Return of the Jedi, after Luke Skywalker defeats Darth Vader and Rebel pilots breach its structure. Emperor Palpatine was aboard at the time and was believed to have died with the station (though he later turned out to have secretly survived). Its construction was personally overseen by Palpatine, who deliberately let it appear unfinished to lure the Rebel fleet into a trap. Its main weapon was already operational before its official completion, demonstrated by the destruction of a Rebel fleet. At roughly 160 km across, it was significantly larger than the first Death Star. The orbital battle between the Rebel and Imperial fleets unfolded simultaneously with the ground battle fought inside the station. The final duel between Vader and Luke also took place aboard it, before Vader saved his son from Palpatine's killing blow. Its destruction symbolized the beginning of the Empire's fall, underscored by the celebratory closing scenes of Return of the Jedi.

Starkiller Base (planet-built superweapon)

The First Order’s star-draining weapon, destroyed by Resistance pilots. An entire planet - the former Ilum, once a site for mining Jedi lightsaber crystals - was converted into this superweapon. It worked by draining the energy of an entire star, then firing it across hyperspace at distant targets. At the end of The Force Awakens (Episode VII), it's used to destroy the Hosnian system, home to the New Republic's capital. Resistance pilots, led by Poe Dameron, stopped it by destroying its reactor before the planet could fully collapse. Given its enormous size, it had its own artificial gravity and breathable atmosphere, large enough to house an entire fleet and military base. It's also where Kylo Ren and Han Solo have their fateful final meeting, in which Kylo kills his own father. Firing the weapon required draining an entire nearby star's energy, which visibly darkened that system's sun. Rey and Finn also encountered Kylo Ren here, before having to flee as the base began to collapse. The base's destruction also destroyed its entire star system, as the drained star's energy was released uncontrollably. It was of major strategic importance to the First Order, since a single shot could wipe out an entire star system.

Millennium Falcon (YT-1300 light freighter)

"The fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy" - beat-up on the outside, record-breaking hyperdrive inside. Han Solo won it from Lando Calrissian in a game of sabacc, who had previously owned and piloted the ship himself. Han and Chewbacca spent years continuously upgrading and patching it: extra armor, a boosted hyperdrive, and secret compartments for smuggling cargo. Its saucer-shaped, asymmetrical design is unique among Star Wars ships, largely because of its off-center cockpit. At the Battle of Yavin (Episode IV), Han Solo returns in it at the last moment to shoot down Darth Vader's TIE fighter from behind Luke Skywalker. It carries four laser cannons and two rotating gun turrets, which are frequently manned by Luke, Han or Chewbacca throughout the saga. At the start of The Force Awakens (Episode VII), it had spent years abandoned as junk on Jakku before Rey and Finn stole it while escaping. By the end of The Rise of Skywalker (Episode IX), it's flown by Rey and Chewbacca, marking its role across the entire Skywalker saga. Its hidden smuggling compartments have been used repeatedly to hide both cargo and people from Imperial inspections. Its hyperdrive is famously fast in the story, making the ship equally suited to both daring escapes and pursuits. It's widely regarded by fans and the wider franchise as one of the most iconic, instantly recognizable ships in Star Wars.

AT-ST walker (bipedal scout walker (All Terrain Scout Transport))

Played a key role in the battle against the Rebels and Ewoks on the forest moon of Endor. Its name, All Terrain Scout Transport, reflects its original purpose: built for fast, light reconnaissance rather than heavy frontline combat. It first appeared on screen in the Endor scenes of Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) in 1983. It's crewed by two: a pilot and a gunner, seated in the walker's 'head', which also serves as the cockpit. Its main armament is a pair of laser cannons and a grenade launcher, effective against infantry and light vehicles. On Endor, Chewbacca and two Ewoks once captured an AT-ST and turned it against the Empire's own forces. It's significantly smaller and more agile than the larger, four-legged AT-AT walkers, making it suited to dense forest or urban terrain. Its bipedal gait and head-like cockpit reinforce the Empire's menacing, mechanical visual identity throughout the franchise. The First Order fielded similar, upgraded walkers decades later, including in the events of The Last Jedi. It continues to appear regularly in The Mandalorian and other more recent Star Wars series, showing the design's lasting presence in the franchise. The improvised traps the Ewoks used against these walkers at Endor - felled logs, rolling boulders - showcased resourcefulness overcoming technological superiority.

X-wing starfighter (single-seat starfighter (Incom T-65))

Luke Skywalker flew one to destroy the first Death Star at the Battle of Yavin. Its four S-foils split into an X shape in flight, giving the ship its name, and fold back together in parallel for landing. It carries an astromech droid (usually an R2 unit) that assists the pilot with navigation and in-flight systems repair. Armed with four laser cannons and proton torpedo launchers, making it effective against both starfighters and larger targets like the Death Star. Luke landed one on Dagobah during his Jedi training; it sank into the swamp and was later lifted out by Yoda using the Force. Red and Gold Squadron pilots flew them at the Battle of Yavin, suffering heavy losses against the first Death Star's defenses. It's equipped with its own hyperdrive, letting it make interstellar jumps independently, without needing an escort ship. Later generations (like the T-70) served as the Resistance's primary starfighter in the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX). Its sleek, cone-nosed silhouette is one of the most recognizable ship designs in the Star Wars franchise, often used in its visual branding. It appears in some form in nearly every mainline film, with the exception of Solo: A Star Wars Story. Its name comes directly from the X shape its wings form when deployed, making it one of the most instantly recognizable Star Wars ship silhouettes.

TIE fighter (twin ion engine starfighter (Sienar Fleet Systems))

The Empire's mass-produced, cheap, fast starfighter - its main strength is numbers. 'TIE' stands for Twin Ion Engine, referring to its propulsion system. Its distinctive flat, hexagonal 'solar panel' wings actually power the twin ion engines' energy systems. It has no shield generator or hyperdrive, so it can only operate near the Star Destroyers or bases it launches from. Its distinctive screaming sound (heard in the films) was reportedly also used by the Empire as psychological warfare to intimidate opponents. Flown by a single pilot, who in most base variants wears no ejection seat or pressure suit - reflecting the Empire's 'cheaper than the pilot's life' philosophy. Darth Vader flew his own upgraded variant, the TIE Advanced x1, which had both a hyperdrive and shields. Several TIE fighters took part in defending the first Death Star at the Battle of Yavin, including Vader's own ship. Extremely fast and maneuverable, but vulnerable without armor or shields - reflecting the Empire's classic 'quantity over quality' strategy. It has many variants (TIE Interceptor, TIE Bomber, TIE Defender), each optimized for a different combat role. The First Order fielded upgraded TIE fighters (TIE/fo) decades later, in the sequel trilogy.

R2-D2 (astromech droid (R2 series, Industrial Automaton))

One of the most loyal droids in the Star Wars universe - he's the one who saves the Death Star plans. His full designation is astromech droid, R2 series, built by Industrial Automaton - designed for navigation calculations, starship repairs, and interfacing with ship systems. He first appeared on screen in A New Hope (Episode IV) in 1977, long before the prequel trilogy set earlier in the story's internal chronology. In the original trilogy he was played by Kenny Baker, who physically sat inside and operated the droid in most scenes. In A New Hope, he's the one secretly carrying the Death Star plans entrusted to him by Princess Leia - the event that kicks off the entire saga. As a loyal companion across generations, he serves first Anakin, then later Luke Skywalker. He communicates only in beeps and whistles ('droid-speak') - audiences understand what he's 'saying' through the other characters' reactions and the tone of the sounds. Alongside C-3PO, R2-D2 is the only character to appear in all nine main Skywalker saga episodes. He can plug into the astromech socket of X-wing starfighters, where he assists the pilot as navigator and repairs onboard systems. In a few scenes (e.g. Attack of the Clones, The Force Awakens) he can briefly hover using rocket thrusters, though this isn't one of his core functions. His visual design was created by concept artist Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston, based on George Lucas's original ideas.

BB-8 (spherical astromech droid)

The sequel trilogy's iconic new droid - Poe Dameron's loyal companion. A spherical droid, BB-8 is one of the iconic new characters of the sequel trilogy (Episodes VII-IX) in the fight against the First Order. He first appeared on screen in 2015's The Force Awakens (Episode VII), as pilot Poe Dameron's loyal astromech companion. His unique movement is distinctive: the spherical body rolls along the ground while the head stays magnetically 'floating' on top, and can rotate independently of the body's motion. In the films he was often a PRACTICAL (not CGI) effect: a real, radio-controlled/magnetic sphere robot was built for filming. He carries a hidden fragment of the map leading to Luke Skywalker's hiding place - entrusted to him by Poe Dameron just before being captured by the First Order. Rey is the first main character to encounter him, in the deserts of Jakku, where she rescues/takes him along. He conceals a hidden fire-extinguisher/tool arm, which he deploys in emergencies. He also forms a close bond with Finn in the films, and his own 'personality' (courage, loyalty, humor) made him one of the new trilogy's fan-favorite characters. His voice (electronic beeps and whistles) was performed with help from Bill Hader and Ben Schwartz during and after production. As a modern astromech droid, he can be seen as a 'successor' to the classic R2 series, sharing similar functions (navigation, ship repair) but with an entirely new, rolling design.

Imperial Star Destroyer (wedge-shaped battleship (Imperial-class))

The backbone of the Imperial Fleet - a single ship can suppress a planet-wide rebellion. Its distinctive triangular, wedge-shaped silhouette and recessed upper command tower make it recognizable from a distance. It carries thousands of troops, TIE fighter squadrons and ground vehicles (like AT-ATs and AT-STs), functioning as a self-contained operational base. In A New Hope (Episode IV), a Star Destroyer is the first ship shown chasing Princess Leia's blockade runner, opening the entire franchise. The Devastator was the first Star Destroyer seen on screen, under the command of Darth Vader. Alongside its recessed surface trenches and heavy armor, its arsenal includes turbolaser batteries and tractor beam projectors. Several Star Destroyers took part in the Battle of Endor (Episode VI), fighting the Rebel fleet to defend the second Death Star. Canonically about 1,600 meters long, making it one of the largest mass-produced warship classes in the franchise. Its design (based on Ralph McQuarrie's concept art) remains one of the defining symbols of the Empire's menacing, industrial aesthetic in sci-fi film history. Its direct predecessor was the Venator-class Republic attack cruiser used during the Clone Wars, some of which remained in service into the Imperial era. Its command bridge and the 'city-like' superstructure rising above the hull are among its most distinctive, easily recognizable visual features.