Yavin
Encyclopedia
Yavin is a planet in the fictional Star Wars
universe. As seen in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
, it is a red gas giant
. Its core is composed of metallic substances and pieces of carbon
and metallic hydrogen
that form corusca gems. Although mining these gems is a promising venture, Yavin is mostly known for its moon of Yavin 4. The Super Star Destroyer Knight Hammer was destroyed here when it was diverted towards the planet's core after a collision with a rebel vessel. It is rumored that the Sith
Darth Maul
was from this region. No one has ever been able to land on the planet, because of its high speed wind storms, no one can get more than a few miles through the atmosphere.
and the Expanded Universe
, Yavin has three other habitable moons.
Yavin 4 is one of the many moons of the gas planet
Yavin in the Star Wars universe. It was home to the Rebel Alliance
's main military base in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
.
, Guatemala
.
The Rebels established their base in the ancient Massassi ruins found in the lush jungles of Yavin 4 following the abandonment of their previous base on the planet Dantooine. The Galactic Empire
sought to use its new space station superweapon, the Death Star
, to destroy the small jungle moon and crush the Rebellion. A force of twenty-two X-wing
and eight Y-wing
starfighters as shown by the Special Edition were sent to destroy the Death Star. With seconds remaining before the moon was to be destroyed, Luke Skywalker, thanks to the timely assistance of his friend Han Solo
and the ghostly advice of Obi-Wan Kenobi
to use the The Force, was able to fire proton torpedoes into a small thermal exhaust port along the Death Star's equatorial trench, thereby destroying the station and saving Yavin 4 from destruction.
All except three Rebel Alliance craft were destroyed in the attack, the only survivors being Luke Skywalker
, Wedge Antilles
, and an unnamed Y-wing pilot (perhaps Keyan Farlander), and possibly a gunner, making four, not including Luke. The survivors are seen in the film when Luke disembarks his X-wing. Following the Death Star's destruction, a great ceremony was held, during which Princess Leia presented medals of honor to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
This battle became known as the Battle of Yavin, and its date is used as a place-marker for events in the expanded Star Wars universe. Events before the Battle of Yavin are marked by BBY ("Before the Battle of Yavin"), and events that occur after are marked by ABY ("After the Battle of Yavin").
The Yavin 4 moon was also the site of giant Massassi Temples built ages ago by the Massassi to worship Naga Sadow, a Sith Lord who had enslaved and mutated the Massassi using Sith Alchemy. The Temple later housed the Rebel Alliance, who used it for shelter and camouflage during their stay on Yavin 4. The Alliance built tall observation towers to monitor entries and exits from their hidden base. The main temple was destroyed during the Yuuzhan Vong
occupation of Yavin 4.
In Tales of the Jedi
, it is stated that Yavin 4 was where Naga Sadow hid from the Republic in 5,000 BBY and was discovered several hundred years later by the fallen Jedi
Freedon Nadd. According to the comic series, the Massassi warriors who built the ruins used by the Rebels were brought to the planet by the Sith Order
in its early years.
In the Jedi Academy Trilogy, Kevin J. Anderson
suggested that Exar Kun had the temples built. Enveloped in the dark side, Kun elevated himself to the stature of a god. He enslaved the Massassi and forced them to construct an intricate complex of massive temples that were used for arcane Sith ceremonies and rites as focii for the dark side.
In the young reader novel The Lost City of the Jedi
, it is discovered, as the title suggests, that the ancient Jedi built a lost city
on Yavin 4.
In the animated micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker has a fierce battle with Asajj Ventress
, a follower of Count Dooku
. Finally Anakin defeats Asajj, sending her falling down a dark abyss.
Luke Skywalker later returns to the moon to found a Jedi academy there, rather than on Coruscant
. The academy was destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong in 26 ABY.
Yavin 4 appears in the downloadable content for the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
.
According to the Keeper of the Holocron, Leland Chee, Yavin 4 (Yavin Four in dialogue), is the correct spelling, not Yavin IV.
, which orbits in its star's habitable zone
in a circular orbit. (However, while Yavin is orange, such planets are currently predicted to be white, with water clouds.) Another such planet is 55 Cancri f
.
).
– In the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it is possible to visit a space station orbiting Yavin 13.
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
universe. As seen in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
, it is a red gas giant
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
. Its core is composed of metallic substances and pieces of carbon
Carbon
Carbon is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds...
and metallic hydrogen
Metallic hydrogen
Metallic hydrogen is a state of hydrogen which results when it is sufficiently compressed and undergoes a phase transition; it is an example of degenerate matter. Solid metallic hydrogen is predicted to consist of a crystal lattice of hydrogen nuclei , with a spacing which is significantly smaller...
that form corusca gems. Although mining these gems is a promising venture, Yavin is mostly known for its moon of Yavin 4. The Super Star Destroyer Knight Hammer was destroyed here when it was diverted towards the planet's core after a collision with a rebel vessel. It is rumored that the Sith
Sith
-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
Darth Maul
Darth Maul
Darth Maul is a fictional character in the science fiction saga Star Wars. He is one of the main antagonists of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, portrayed by martial artist Ray Park and voiced by Peter Serafinowicz....
was from this region. No one has ever been able to land on the planet, because of its high speed wind storms, no one can get more than a few miles through the atmosphere.
Moons
In A New HopeStar Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
and the Expanded Universe
Star Wars Expanded Universe
The Star Wars Expanded Universe encompasses all of the officially licensed, fictional background of the Star Wars universe, outside of the six feature films produced by George Lucas. The expanded universe includes books, comic books, video games, spin-off films like Star Wars: The Clone Wars,...
, Yavin has three other habitable moons.
Yavin 4
 |
|
| Distance from Galactic Core | 40,500 light-year Light-year A light-year, also light year or lightyear is a unit of length, equal to just under 10 trillion kilometres... s |
|---|---|
| Region | Outer Rim |
| System | Yavin Star System |
| Number of suns | 1 |
| Population | 21.2 million. less than 5 after the rebellion left |
| Surface Water | 8% |
| Affiliation | New republic/ Rebel Alliance |
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
Yavin in the Star Wars universe. It was home to the Rebel Alliance
Rebel Alliance
The Alliance to Restore the Republic is an interstellar faction of the fictional universe of Star Wars....
's main military base in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
.
Filming
In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the scenes featuring the scenery of Yavin 4 were filmed in TikalTikal
Tikal is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. It is located in the archaeological region of the Petén Basin in what is now northern Guatemala...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
.
In the cinematic series
The Rebels established their base in the ancient Massassi ruins found in the lush jungles of Yavin 4 following the abandonment of their previous base on the planet Dantooine. The Galactic Empire
Galactic Empire (Star Wars)
The Galactic Empire is one of the main factions in the fictional universe of Star Wars. It is a galaxy-spanning regime established by the series' lead villain, Palpatine, to replace the Galactic Republic in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The Galactic Empire is introduced in Star Wars...
sought to use its new space station superweapon, the Death Star
Death Star
The Death Star is a fictional moon-sized space station and superweapon appearing in the Star Wars movies and expanded universe. It is capable of destroying a planet with a single destructive super charged energy beam.-Origin and design:...
, to destroy the small jungle moon and crush the Rebellion. A force of twenty-two X-wing
X-wing
X-wings are fictional starfighters from the original Star Wars trilogy and the expanded universe. They are depicted as the primary interceptor and dogfighter of the Rebel Alliance and the New Republic...
and eight Y-wing
Y-wing
Y-wings are fictional Rebel Alliance and New Republic starfighters in the Star Wars universe. They appear in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, as well as the Clone Wars TV series and the Expanded Universe's...
starfighters as shown by the Special Edition were sent to destroy the Death Star. With seconds remaining before the moon was to be destroyed, Luke Skywalker, thanks to the timely assistance of his friend Han Solo
Han Solo
Han Solo is a fictional character in the Star Wars franchise played by Harrison Ford. Introduced in the film Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot, Chewbacca , become involved in the Rebel Alliance against the Galactic Empire...
and the ghostly advice of Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is one of several primary characters in the Star Wars series. Along with Darth Vader, R2-D2, and C-3PO, he is one of the few major characters to appear in all six Star Wars films...
to use the The Force, was able to fire proton torpedoes into a small thermal exhaust port along the Death Star's equatorial trench, thereby destroying the station and saving Yavin 4 from destruction.
All except three Rebel Alliance craft were destroyed in the attack, the only survivors being Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise, where he is portrayed by Mark Hamill. He is introduced in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, in which he is forced to leave home, and finds himself apprenticed to the Jedi master...
, Wedge Antilles
Wedge Antilles
Wedge Antilles is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He is a supporting character portrayed by Denis Lawson in the original Star Wars trilogy. Antilles, also called the "greatest ace" pilot in the Rebel Alliance, also appears in the Star Wars Expanded Universe and is the lead...
, and an unnamed Y-wing pilot (perhaps Keyan Farlander), and possibly a gunner, making four, not including Luke. The survivors are seen in the film when Luke disembarks his X-wing. Following the Death Star's destruction, a great ceremony was held, during which Princess Leia presented medals of honor to Luke Skywalker and Han Solo.
This battle became known as the Battle of Yavin, and its date is used as a place-marker for events in the expanded Star Wars universe. Events before the Battle of Yavin are marked by BBY ("Before the Battle of Yavin"), and events that occur after are marked by ABY ("After the Battle of Yavin").
The Yavin 4 moon was also the site of giant Massassi Temples built ages ago by the Massassi to worship Naga Sadow, a Sith Lord who had enslaved and mutated the Massassi using Sith Alchemy. The Temple later housed the Rebel Alliance, who used it for shelter and camouflage during their stay on Yavin 4. The Alliance built tall observation towers to monitor entries and exits from their hidden base. The main temple was destroyed during the Yuuzhan Vong
Yuuzhan Vong
The Yuuzhan Vong are a group of fictional characters from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. They rise as a threat to the New Republic in the New Jedi Order series of novels....
occupation of Yavin 4.
Expanded Universe
In Tales of the Jedi
Tales of the Jedi
Tales of the Jedi is a series of comic books that are published by Dark Horse Comics and are part of the fictional Star Wars Expanded Universe. They cover the Great Sith War and the Great Hyperspace War and remain the earliest chronological Star Wars stories.The first books released covered the...
, it is stated that Yavin 4 was where Naga Sadow hid from the Republic in 5,000 BBY and was discovered several hundred years later by the fallen Jedi
Jedi
The Jedi are characters in the Star Wars universe and the series's main protagonists. The Jedi use a power called the Force and weapons called lightsabers, which emit a controlled energy flow in the shape of a sword, in order to serve and protect the Republic and the galaxy at large from conflict...
Freedon Nadd. According to the comic series, the Massassi warriors who built the ruins used by the Rebels were brought to the planet by the Sith Order
Sith
-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
in its early years.
In the Jedi Academy Trilogy, Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is an American science fiction author with over forty bestsellers. He has written spin-off novels for Star Wars, StarCraft, Titan A.E., and The X-Files, and with Brian Herbert is the co-author of the Dune prequels...
suggested that Exar Kun had the temples built. Enveloped in the dark side, Kun elevated himself to the stature of a god. He enslaved the Massassi and forced them to construct an intricate complex of massive temples that were used for arcane Sith ceremonies and rites as focii for the dark side.
In the young reader novel The Lost City of the Jedi
The Lost City of the Jedi
The Lost City of the Jedi is the second book of the Jedi Prince series by Paul Davids and Hollace Davids, and was released in June 1992. It is preceded by the novel The Glove of Darth Vader and followed by the novel Zorba the Hutt's Revenge....
, it is discovered, as the title suggests, that the ancient Jedi built a lost city
Lost city
A "Lost City" is a term that is generally considered to refer to a well-populated area which fell into terminal decline, became extensively or completely uninhabited, and whose location has been forgotten. Some lost cities whose locations have been rediscovered have been studied extensively by...
on Yavin 4.
In the animated micro-series Star Wars: Clone Wars, Anakin Skywalker has a fierce battle with Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress
Asajj Ventress is a fictional character from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. She is best known for her appearances in the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series, in which she is played by voice-actress Grey DeLisle and serves as Anakin Skywalker's arch nemesis during the first season...
, a follower of Count Dooku
Count Dooku
Count Dooku is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe. Dooku is one of the main antagonists of both Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and the events of the Clone Wars and is a supporting villain in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Count Dooku plays a substantial role...
. Finally Anakin defeats Asajj, sending her falling down a dark abyss.
Luke Skywalker later returns to the moon to found a Jedi academy there, rather than on Coruscant
Coruscant
Coruscant is a planet in the fictional Star Wars universe. It first appeared onscreen in the 1997 Special Edition of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, but was first mentioned in Timothy Zahn's 1991 novel Heir to the Empire...
. The academy was destroyed by the Yuuzhan Vong in 26 ABY.
Yavin 4 appears in the downloadable content for the video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by LucasArts. It was released for the Xbox on July 15, 2003, for Microsoft Windows on November 19, 2003, and on September 7, 2004 for Mac OS X. The Xbox version is playable on Xbox 360 with its...
.
According to the Keeper of the Holocron, Leland Chee, Yavin 4 (Yavin Four in dialogue), is the correct spelling, not Yavin IV.
Real-world relevance
Astronomers have been discovering "extrasolar" planets (planets that orbit stars other than the Sun) the last few years. Some of these extrasolar planets are large and resemble Yavin, although astronomers cannot yet tell whether any Earth type planetary moons exist around such extrasolar planets. The most intriguing of these extrasolar planets is HD 28185 bHD 28185 b
HD 28185 b is an extrasolar planet approximately 138 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Eridanus. The planet was discovered orbiting the Sun-like star HD 28185 in April 2001 as a part of the CORALIE survey for southern extrasolar planets, and its existence was independently...
, which orbits in its star's habitable zone
Habitable zone
In astronomy and astrobiology, a habitable zone is an umbrella term for regions that are considered favourable to life. The concept is inferred from the empirical study of conditions favourable for Life on Earth...
in a circular orbit. (However, while Yavin is orange, such planets are currently predicted to be white, with water clouds.) Another such planet is 55 Cancri f
55 Cancri f
55 Cancri f is an extrasolar planet approximately 41 light-years away from Earth in the constellation of Cancer...
.
Yavin 8
A cold moon consisting mostly of tundra. It harbors some life, albeit not very diverse.Yavin 13
Yavin 13, a hot desert moon populated by Gerbs and Sliths (a serpentine species, not to be mistaken for the infamous SithSith
-Sith:The Sith is a name applied to certain characters in the Star Wars universe. In the films they are the central antagonists. They are capable of using the dark side of the Force.-The Invention of the Sith:...
).
– In the game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it is possible to visit a space station orbiting Yavin 13.