10 Best Planets To See Explored Again in Star Wars

The Star Wars universe is vast and filled with countless planets, each with its own unique culture, landscape, and story.

From the desert sands of Tatooine to the forested beauty of Endor, these worlds have captured the imaginations of fans for generations.

In this article, we’ll explore 10 iconic Star Wars planets that have left us yearning for more adventures, more lore, and more screen time.

Let’s get started!

1. Illum

Illum is a remote, icy planet located in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. It was discovered by the Jedi Order thousands of years ago and has since been used as a sacred site for Jedi rituals, particularly the gathering of Kyber crystals for their lightsabers.

Illum holds a significant place in the Star Wars universe due to its connection with the Jedi Order. 

It is the site where young Jedi initiates participate in The Gathering, a rite of passage where they find and harvest their own Kyber crystals, which they then use to construct their lightsabers. This ritual is seen as a crucial step in a Jedi’s training.

The most notable feature of Illum is its crystal caves, filled with Kyber crystals. 

These crystals are force-attuned minerals found at the heart of every Jedi lightsaber. The planet’s surface is covered in ice and snow, with temperatures often dropping to extreme lows.

Interesting Facts

• When the Jedi Order was exterminated by order of Darth Sidious, the new Galactic Empire occupied Ilum and began excavating it for its vast supply of kyber crystals, which were to be used in the construction of the first and second Death Stars. The over-mining of the planet caused its core, and later a massive Imperial Trench, to open up along Ilum’s equator.
• After the fall of the Empire, its successor state, the First Order, converted the massive trench into Starkiller Base: a system-destroying superweapon that was the culmination of the Empire’s research into dark energy translations and hyperspace tunneling.

2. Naboo

Naboo is a planet that looks a lot like Earth. It’s in the Mid Rim area, close to the Outer Rim Territories. It’s a green and beautiful place with two groups of people living there. 

The Gungans live in cities under the water, and the human Naboo live in places all over the land.

Naboo holds a pivotal role in the Star Wars saga. It is the birthplace of significant characters such as Senator Padmé Amidala, Representative Jar Jar Binks, and Senator Palpatine

In “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace,” Naboo becomes the focal point of a Trade Federation blockade and the ensuing Battle of Naboo between the Federation and the planet’s inhabitants.

Key Locations:

• Theed: This is the main city where the human Naboo live. It’s also the capital of the planet.
• Otoh Gunga: This is where most of the Gungans live.
• Lake Country: A peaceful area with lots of lakes.
• Gallo Mountains: A big range of mountains that’s really beautiful

Fun Facts:

• Naboo has three moons going around it: Ohma-D’un, Onoam, and Veruna.
• The buildings in Theed were inspired by a place in California designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• There are lots of different animals living in the swamps of Naboo, including a big one called the Opee Sea Killer.

3. Manaan 

Manaan is a planet that’s all water and is in the Pyrshak system. The Selkath, a type of creature that can live in water, call this planet home. 

The whole planet is covered in water and has a special kind of ocean landscape.

Manaan was first seen in the 2003 video game Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

If you’re ready for an adventure, Manaan is waiting for you in the game. 

When you land on this all-water planet, you’ll have a dream about a Star Map. This Star Map is super important because it gets you closer to the Star Forge. There are lots of places to explore on Manaan, like the Sith base.

One of the coolest parts of the game is getting to know the Selkath, the creatures who live on Manaan. You can learn about how they stay neutral and how much they care about their oceans.

Special Things About Manaan:

• Kolto: Manaan is the only place where you can find Kolto, a strong healing liquid.
• Selkath Creatures: The Selkath creatures live in the water and have always taken care of their oceans.

4. Nar Shaddaa

Nar Shaddaa, also called the “Smuggler’s Moon,” is the biggest moon of the planet Nal Hutta. It’s in the Hutt Space area of the Outer Rim Territories.

The whole surface of Nar Shaddaa is filled with city buildings, which is why people call it “Little Coruscant.” You can even see the city lights from space.

Nar Shaddaa is home to a large criminal underworld dominated by bounty hunters and Hutt crime lords.

When visiting Nar Shaddaa, there are several key locations to explore. The Corellian Sector is an important area on the planet that’s worth a visit. 

Another bustling hub of activity is the Nar Shaddaa Spaceport, where spaceships are constantly arriving and departing. 

The Palace of Grakkus the Hutt, known for its grand fighting arena, is also a significant location. 

Lastly, the Slag Pit stands out as a famous spot on Nar Shaddaa that attracts many visitors.

Interesting Facts:

• People often call Nar Shaddaa the Vertical City, the Smuggler’s Moon, Little Coruscant, or even Little Slugland. It’s a lot like Coruscant because its surface has been covered with city buildings for a very long time.
• Nar Shaddaa is where the bounty hunter Aurra Sing, the Jedi Master Eeth Koth, and the slaver Azmorigan come from.

5. Nal Hutta 

Nal Hutta, or just Hutta, is a hot and swampy planet that’s deep in the Hutt Space area of the galaxy. It’s where the Hutt creatures come from and where the Grand Hutt Council is. The planet is full of bogs and the little bit of land that isn’t swampy is where the Hutts live.

There are several important places on Nal Hutta that are worth mentioning. 

Gardulla the Hutt’s Palace, for instance, is known for its large fighting arena. 

Another notable location is Mama the Hutt’s house, which is a site of interest on the planet. 

Pablo’s Pawnshop is a well-known establishment on Nal Hutta, frequented by many. 

Lastly, the grand Wheeta Palace stands as a significant landmark on the planet, known for its size and grandeur.

6. Korriban

Korriban, also known as Pesegam or Moraband, is the only planet in the Horuset system. It’s where the Sith originally came from and is a very important place for the Sith Order. 

This is where many powerful Dark Lords of the Sith are buried, and the planet is full of dark side power.

You’ll find tombs of powerful Dark Lords of the Sith in the Valley of the Dark Lords. 

The Sith Academy, which used to have a big fighting arena, and the Sith Citadel are also worth a visit. 

And if you’re up for an adventure, check out the Shyrack cave. But remember, Korriban is a safe haven for the Sith Empire and other criminals because it’s far from the authorities.

7. Dathomir

Dathomir is a mysterious planet far away in the Outer Rim Territories. It’s known for its connection to the dark side of the Force. 

The planet has a lot of tough landscapes like twisted plants, forests with bent trees, and swamps. A red mist that always covers the planet comes from its red dwarf sun, Domir.

Dathomir is a special place for many reasons. The land on Dathomir is diverse and fascinating, with everything from canyons, caves, and cliffs to jungles, mountains, and swamps. 

But it’s not just the land that makes Dathomir unique. 

The planet is home to a variety of wildlife and plants, including scary creatures like rancors and the mysterious Nightsisters, making it as diverse as it is dangerous. 

The inhabitants of Dathomir, known as the Dathomirians, which includes the Zabrak species, add to the planet’s uniqueness. 

The tribal Nightsisters and Nightbrothers are the main groups on Dathomir, contributing to its rich and varied culture.

One of the key elements that make Dathomir important is the Nightsisters, a group of Force-wielding witches. 

Their influence has been felt across the galaxy, particularly during the Clone Wars. 

Additionally, the infamous Darth Maul chose Dathomir as his base of operations, further elevating the planet’s prominence and importance within the Star Wars saga.

Interesting Things About Dathomir:

• The culture on Dathomir is closely connected to death and the dark side, which makes it a unique part of Star Wars.
• Dathomir was first talked about in the Star Wars Legends stories before it was added to the official Star Wars story.

8. Mortis

Mortis is a special place in the Star Wars universe that goes beyond the normal world. It’s like a magical dimension that represents all the mystery and secrets in Star Wars. 

In Mortis, normal rules about time and space don’t apply, and reality changes because of its powerful inhabitants. 

People say that the Force started in Mortis, which makes it a place of great power and old secrets.

Mortis has a dreamlike landscape that’s hard to put into words. It has mountains that float, beautiful forests, and caves with molten rock, and these can change at any time. 

During the day, Mortis is peaceful and filled with a healing light. But at night, the land becomes empty and dangerous, with hot rain and plants that have lost their leaves.

Interesting Facts about Mortis:

• Mortis can never be found unless it wishes to be found.
• The Mortis gods are some of the most important and allegorical characters in all of Star Wars, representing the balance between the light side and the dark side of the Force
• The daylight on Mortis could heal living creatures.

9. Coruscant

Coruscant is more than just the capital of the galaxy. It’s a huge city that covers an entire planet, with a big population and a long, complex history. 

The whole planet is covered in buildings, with skyscrapers that reach the clouds and an underworld that goes deep into the darkness.

Coruscant is the center of government and has seen a lot of political power struggles. It’s seen different governments come and go, from the democratic Republic to the Empire, and then back to the New Republic.

The buildings on Coruscant show how clever and ambitious its people are. 

The city is built in layers, or levels, one on top of the other. This creates a society that goes from rich at the top to poor at the bottom.

The way Coruscant’s society is split up is reflected in its buildings. Old ruins are buried under new buildings, and the planet’s core holds secrets from the start of civilization.

Coruscant’s population is a mix of the galaxy’s diversity. Every species and culture can be found here, which makes a rich mix of life that you can’t find anywhere else. 

The planet’s culture is a mix of traditions and customs from all over the stars.

The Galactic City, or Imperial City when the Empire was in charge, is the city that covers all of Coruscant. It’s split up into sectors, zones, and districts, each with its own special character and purpose.

Here are some interesting things about Coruscant:

• Center of the Galaxy: Coruscant is at the very center of the galaxy. Its coordinates are (0,0,0), which makes it the center of the galactic coordinate system.
• Lots of People: More than one trillion beings live on Coruscant. This makes it one of the planets with the most people in the galaxy.
• Underworld: There’s a big network of tunnels and districts under the surface of Coruscant. This is called the Coruscant Underworld. It’s where the less fortunate live and where a lot of criminal activity happens.

10. Yavin IV

Yavin IV is the fourth moon that goes around the big gas planet Yavin Prime. It’s a mysterious place with a lot of history from the Galactic Civil War. 

The moon has thick jungles and tall Massassi temples that have seen a lot of history.

The Great Temple on Yavin IV is a big ziggurat that the ancient Massassi built. 

The Rebel Alliance used it as their main base. This is where the Rebels started their brave attack on the Death Star, which led to a big win that changed the galaxy.

Yavin IV has a lot of different life. The tall Massassi trees and glowing orchids make a beautiful background for all the different animals. 

Creatures like the woolamander, a fruit-eating animal that lives in trees, and the stintaril, a meat-eating rodent, are just some of the special species that live on Yavin IV.

Here are some fun facts about Yavin IV:

Filming Location: The outside shots of Yavin IV in the original Star Wars film were filmed at the Mayan temples of Tikal in Guatemala.

Different Continents: Yavin IV has several continents, each with its own special environment. These range from the Ferra Groves to the Flat Mountain of Yavin.

Natural Defenses: The moon’s thick jungles and tough terrain provided natural defenses against being found and invaded. This made it a great location for the Rebel Alliance’s secret base.