The Yavin Question Answered...

[Doc Milo]

I remember a few months ago we were discussing why the first Death Star didn't just blow up Yavin in order to destroy the planet's moon. The Official Site, in the "Ask the Jedi Council" section has now answered this question:


In Star Wars, why does the Death Star go around the planet Yavin to blow up the fourth moon when it can simply blow up Yavin first (as it did Alderaan) and then the fourth moon without wasting any time?

Answered by: Steve Sansweet

The Death Star's superlaser is very powerful, but it's not all powerful. Relatively speaking, a terrestrial world of rock and metal like Alderaan is easier to blow up than an immense gas giant like Yavin. The Death Star simply couldn't blow up Yavin, and had to circle the gas giant in order to get to the much smaller moon Yavin 4.

[Jedi Master Carr]

That makes sense. I guess a gas giant would be harder to destroy because of the facts its not a solid mass like rock.

[Jedi Master Kyle]

Looks like the rebels picked a smart hiding spot. I wonder if that was something that Lucas considered when making the movie. Knowing that eventually that question would be asked.

[Darth23]

I certainly hope not.

:p

Of course you could make the argument that if the Ds was powerul enough to destroy Yavin, it would have been damaged or destroyed in the explosion - because the of the range of the DS weapon, and the massive size of the planet.

But that's just geeky speculation.

:D

[Jedi Master Kyle]

I think that's rather believable too. Unless the DS shield protects it from that sort of thing.