Endor (Star Wars)

The forest moon of Endor, also known as the sanctuary moon or simply as Endor is a fictional moon in the Star Wars fictional universe. It appears in ' as the home to the Ewoks, and is the body that the second Death Star is constructed in orbit around. It is also the location of the Ewok TV movies ' and ', as well as the animated series ' (and the Marvel Comics adaptation of the animated series).

Name and characteristics

The body has no name in "Return of the Jedi"; it is simply called the "forest moon of Endor". However, no planet is shown in the film for it to orbit as a moon. The novelization explains this by asserting that the planet was destroyed a long time ago. The Ewok television movies, by contrast, show a large gas giant in the moon's skies, but refer to the moon as "Endor". In the "Ewoks" cartoon, the moon is shown to orbit a binary star.

Endor is a forested world of giant trees. The Endor scenes in "Return of the Jedi" were filmed in a redwood forest near Crescent City, California.

Along with the Ewoks, the moon is depicted in post-"Jedi" works as the home of deadly giant Goraxes, tall and timid Yuzzums, evil yet dim-witted Duloks, rodent-like Teeks, vicious condor dragons and a settlement of off-planet reptilian marauders.

Role in "Return of the Jedi"

The moon and its inhabitants play a pivotal role in the Galactic Civil War in "Return of the Jedi": the Rebel Alliance's destruction of the second Death Star occurs in the moon's orbit, and is facilitated by events on the moon's surface.The Second Death Star's shield generator is located on the moon's surface. Rebels led by Han Solo use stolen codes and an Imperial shuttle to land on the surface intent on destroying the generator. The Rebels inadvertently form an alliance with the Ewok inhabitants, who believe C-3PO is "some sort of god." The Ewoks provide guidance and support the Rebels' attack on the Imperial military presence. Once the Rebel Alliance takes down the Death Star's shield, the space station is open to attack; Rebel starfighters, led by Lando Calrissian in the "Millennium Falcon", annihilate it.

Impact damage

In "Return of the Jedi", the Death Star is shown exploding in orbit around Endor, an image that has prompted speculation about the consequences for Endor of impact damage. In one of the "Star Wars Tales" comics, "Apocalypse Endor", an Imperial veteran of Endor refers to the moon being devastated by the impact of falling debris; however, another character dismisses this as a myth, saying that most of the Death Star's mass was obliterated in the explosion, and that the Rebels "took care of the rest." [Comic book reference | Writer=Various | Story =Apocalypse Endor | Title=Star Wars Tales | Issue=14 | Date=December 11, 2004 | Publisher=Dark Horse Comics] The book "Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy" describes the Rebels using shields and tractor beams to protect their strike team on the moon of Endor.

References

External links

* [http://www.starwars.com/databank/location/endor/index.html Endor] at the Star Wars Databank (official site).
*Sww|Endor
* [http://www.theforce.net/swtc/holocaust.html Endor 'Holocaust'] at Star Wars Technical Commentaries.