Five Things You Don't Know About Ilum

Star Wars has several planets that are integral to almost every story that the franchise has to tell like Coruscant and Tatooine. One planet that might not come to mind is the ice planet Ilum. Located in the 7G sector of the Unknown Regions in the Ilum system, many casual fans may have never heard of it, but this planet would become one of the most vital resources to both the Jedi and Sith in the prequel trilogy, original trilogy, and the sequel trilogy. Here are 5 things you don’t know about Ilum.

5. It Was First Discovered By The Gree

While this fact may no longer be canon ever since Disney took over Star Wars, the Gree were the first people to ever discover Ilum. This advanced species that developed hundreds of thousands of years before the Galactic Republic used Ilum to establish an enclave and used it as a launching point for their exploration vessel, the Gray Secant. The Jedi wouldn’t come across Ilum until 22,800 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) when a Jedi scout felt a strong pull in the Force.

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4. Its First Canon Appearance Was In The Clone Wars Television Series

The planet Ilum first appeared in cannon in Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series. In Season 5 Episode 6 titled “The Gathering,” fans got their first real look at Ilum and the Jedi secrets held within the planet’s caves. This episode delved deeper into how the planet was used by the Jedi and the role it played for Jedi younglings. Ilum also made an appearance in the Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order video game. In the game, Cal Kestis (controlled by the player) traveled to the ice planet in search of kyber crystals after damaging his previous weapon. The first time Ilum ever appeared in Legends was in Star Wars Vintage: Clone Wars 2D micro series released in 2003. It depicted Master Luminara and her Padawan Barriss Offee in the Jedi Temple on Ilum as Barris constructed her lightsaber.

3. It Is Where The Jedi Harvested Kyber Crystals

Ilum had a kyber crystalline core which the Jedi harvested for kyber crystals in a rite of passage known as “The Gathering.” Jedi younglings must travel here to harvest kyber crystals for their lightsabers. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano mentioned, “There is no place more sacred to the Jedi.”During the Gathering, Jedi younglings would enter the temple where they would be challenged to find a kyber crystal attuned to their Force presence in the Crystal Cave. The Cave would exploit their deepest fears and insecurities. However, if they successfully completed the challenge, a unique kyber crystal would appear that they could use to build their lightsaber.

2. The Empire Used It to Build the Death Star

Emperor Palpatine commissioned deep space expeditions into the Unknown Regions using ancient routes found in the Jedi Temple. When he found Ilum he immediately began strip-mining the planet for the energy-focusing kyber crystals. The Galactic Empire took over Ilum and harvested the kyber crystals to use as focusing arrays for the Death Stars’ super laser. The Galactic Empire would ravage the planet, leaving the few Jedi who survived the initial purge in despair, and preventing them from being able to build lightsabers.

1. It Became Starkiller Base

Ilum was chosen to serve as the stronghold for the First Order as Starkiller Base. The First Order chose Ilum as their base of operations because of its unique energy transmitting crystalline deposits. They converted it into a superweapon capable of destroying entire star systems. The Starkiller Base was powered by dark energy called “quintessence,” which offered practically unlimited power source for the First Order. At the end of Force Awakens, Finn revealed to the Resistance that destroying the base’s thermal oscillator when it was fully charged was the key to destroying the base. Unfortunately, when the base was eliminated, so was the planet Ilum itself.

These are five facts you probably don't know about Ilum. Which is your favorite?

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Written By Victoria Prestley

Source(s): StarWars.com, Wookieepedia

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