StarDestroyer.Net BBS

The unnamed galaxy (henceforth simply referred to as the galaxy or the STAR WARS galaxy ) of STAR WARS and its proximity is the setting of all the main events of the absolute canon and also the Expanded Universe spin-off media. Using scientific understanding of the physical nature and characteristics of galaxies as well as canon evidence from the STAR WARS saga, this essay endeavors to clarify the nature of the STAR WARS civilization and to make implications about the nature of its society outside that explained by canon evidence.

I am a student of chemistry, economics, and political science. I have no degree, and without the power of the Internet and many helpful analysts much better educated than me, particularly in physics, I could not have put together this brief essay. In particular, I owe Mike Wong, Julius Sykes, and Dr. Curtis Saxton for their illuminating insights.

This essay began as a series of thoughts by me and discussions between Mr. Sykes and myself. In particular I was inspired by the lack of in depth thought by the nature of SW civilization from galactic morphology, hyperdrive, and realism in the Expanded Universe and especially prompted by the awful maps and misinterpretations currently being propagated in the Expanded Universe. I owe Star Trek Cartography for inspiration, and wish a technically-minded STAR WARS fan might eventually set up something like it, making sense of the crap in the STAR WARS Expanded Universe’s currently mangled cartography. Eventually, I plan to pen essays discussing from the contents of this essay more specific insights and theories into the political character of the galactic civilization, and eventually more specific ideas on strategic and tactical warfare stemming from those insights (along the lines of my sensible ground equipment thread).

I. Primer

The STAR WARS galaxy is, unfortunately, never directly observed during the filmic canon. The unknown object seen during the dénouement of The Empire Strikes Back from aboard the rebel medical frigate is inconsistent with a galaxy. Its morphology, luminosity, and rate of rotation are all inconsistent with such an interpretation. There are, thankfully, simulations or maps present within both the filmic and Expanded Universe canon. In Attack of the Clones we observe both this map within the reputedly comprehensive Jedi Archives and these maps aboard a galactic senator's personal transport.

The former map shows two satellite galaxies, likely magnified and pulled into the same plane as the main disk for cartographical simplicity. The image is not distinct enough to make out the number of arms, or to draw meaningful conclusions about its morphology or its dimensions. The latter shows two large spiral arms and permits perhaps 2 partial or un-highlighted arms. Some cartographic effects must be at work to account for the discrepancies, otherwise it would imply that these are two different galaxies.

The Expanded Universe gives us many flat map views, and also depictions from the viewpoint of the heroes of the Rebellion against the Empire. This image from the Marvel STAR WARS comics is indistinct but implies four major galactic spiral arms, and the right angle to the plane of the disk (i.e., above or below the north or south poles) suggests that the STAR WARS galaxy is, in fact, a spiral galaxy, and not a barred- or partial barred-spiral galaxy. This map in Inside the Worlds of Episode I suggests there are only the same two major galactic arms of the map in the senator's yacht in Attack of the Clones. However, it does lay out regions according to galactic structure, which is helpful to combine the canonical terminology for various regions with known galactic morphology.

We have access to textual descriptions as well. The Expanded Universe informs us that the STAR WARS galaxy is 120,000 light-years in diameter (Tales from Mos Eisley Cantina, p. 202; Tales of the Bounty Hunters, p. 301) - presumably from the discernable edge of one side of the disk to the other. It contains over 400 billion stars (Shield of Lies, p.39). Disregarding satellite galaxies and dark matter, if the number of stars is proportional to the relative mass, than the STAR WARS galaxy is up to twice the mass of the Milky Way galaxy, and covers 44% more area.

In summary, the canon galaxy of STAR WARS superficially appears to be a spiral galaxy of SAb or SAc type with at least two and more probably four major galactic arms. It is unlikely that it is actually a barred-spiral galaxy. At least two dwarf spiral or lenticular galaxies are satellites to the STAR WARS galaxy. It is significantly larger than the Milky Way galaxy and probably more luminous. Its impossible to determine the ratio of their mass.

II. Physical Structure of Galaxies

A spiral galaxy is a heterogeneous object. Any spiral galaxy can be generalized into several distinct morphological regions. There's the galactic bulge, the galactic disk, and the galactic halo.

The galactic bulge is the oldest area of the galaxy, and also the densest. It was here first that interstellar gas and dust became dense enough to birth stars. The tightly packed mass of stars in the galactic center since blasted most free gas and dust away by radiation pressure - the combined stellar wind of billions of stars. Therefore, the galactic bulge is characterized by the lowest rates of stellar formation, the lowest concentrations of free hydrogen (the former is caused by the latter), high density of old stars and stellar corpses, and a low density of post-helium elements. Heavy elements are generated by supernovae, and recycled into younger generation stars and star systems. Therefore there are very few planets, and extremely few that may naturally be capable of supporting life. The density of stars and their corpses gives rise to a supermassive black hole at the galactic center, as well.

Beyond the galactic bulge lies the galactic disk. It is composed of younger generations of stars than the bulge, and is still a home to star formation. Most stars here are younger generation, which means they are rich in heavy elements and capable of possessing terrestrial planets that may support life. The density of the disk is radially dependent - the closer to the bulge, the denser the disk. Density is also is directly proportional the spiral shape - the spiral arms are denser than the space between them. Lastly, density is inversely proportional latitudinally with respect to the galactic plane of rotation (the further north or south from the plane of the disk, the lower the density). The heavy elements suitable for exploitation and that compose terrestrial, traditionally life-supporting planets will vary with the stellar density. Astronomical violence such as star systems being tidally distorted and planets ejected from orbits by close passes with neighbor stars, and supernovae are also much more frequent and much more intense due to the same density. It is important to note that the spiral arms within the disk are not literal clumps of stars. They are not close groupings which orbit together. Rather, they are a kind of density wave or pattern that propagates through the disk at a different rate than stars' orbit about the center. Naturally life-bearing planets will tend to be outlying and to orbit in such a way that keeps them outside dense, violent galactic arms most of the time.

The galactic halo is a spherical structure many times the diameter of the galactic disk. It is filled with lone ejected stars from the disk, globular clusters (which tend to be located close to the galactic center, and orbit around the bulge above and below the plane of the galactic disk), and satellite dwarf galaxies (the distinction between these and globular clusters is somewhat blurred; the largest globular clusters are thought to be the bulge-remnants of dwarf galaxies which were mostly absorbed by the primary galaxy). Planets are extremely uncommon here, as are heavy elements. Globular clusters are located much closer to the galactic center and to the plane of the disk than the furthest halo stars and most extant dwarf satellites. Their composition is quite similar to the galactic bulge, being dense clusters of first generation stars - old stars - with little stellar formation or gas and where stellar corpses are common. The entire galactic halo is filled and shrouded by a cloud of massive but non-interactive matter known as dark matter, which forms a halo containing all of the galactic structure and its satellites.

III. Limitations on a Galactic Economy

Any galactic civilization will be attracted to sources of energy and heavy element resources. One still containing organic individuals, such as STAR WARS, will also be want for naturally habitable planets, and other worlds easily exploited for habitation or agriculture.

The best sources for energy resources are compact stellar corpses. A neutron star or black hole contains more mass and energy than the Sun, but is much smaller than a terrestrial planet. The marginal cost on building megastructures that drain the radiative or rotational energy of a main sequence star as opposed to a neutron star or black hole is very high. The rotational momentum of the core of supergiant star is doubtfully completely expended a supernovae. Therefore the Kerr solution to black holes is more likely than the classic Schwarzschild solution, as presumably most black holes have angular momentum. In this case, then energy can be extracted from the black hole by the Penrose process. Pulsars have high amounts of angular momentum and strong magnetic fields. Presumably they too could be drained of energy akin to the way a generator turns the rotational energy of a drive shaft into usable energy in the from of electricity. The best sources for compact stellar corpses is the galactic bulge, or halo sources like globular clusters. One would expect that the STAR WARS civilization has taken to exploiting these resources to cover its enormous energy consumption.

Raw materials will come in the form of heavy elements. For the purposes of resource distribution, this can be generalized to all post-helium elements, which will vary directly with the stellar density in the galactic disk. Furthermore, young systems where the protostellar disk has yet to condense into planet-scale masses and the star has yet to evacuate the majority of its mass by radiation pressure are more favorable for resource extraction because the difficulties of extraction within and from a planetary gravity well are eliminated, and the largest proportion of heavy elements such as heavy metals has not yet sunk to the core of a planet, below the light silicate rocks of the crust and mantle. The best source for high metallicity systems and forming planets is the densest areas of the disk, closest to the bulge. Galactic mining and industry should be at its densest in these regions, deceasing proportionally to falling stellar density as you move further out from the center.

Organic-based societies may need temperate climates on terrestrial planets of moderate gravity with hospitable atmospheres. Naturally-occurring life-supporting planets are the most economically favorable for habitation or agriculture since they require the least energy or material investment to use. The highest density of planets will be in the densest portions of the disk, where there are the most post-helium elements. The fringes of the disk and the bulge are poor post-helium elements and should host very few habitable worlds. However, this density is a double-edged sword. Nearby stars can pull planets from balmy distances to and stable orbits around their primary into wild, inhospitable eccentric orbits, or eject them all together. Nearby supernovae will sterilize life-baring planets clean. Stellar nurseries and nearby black holes and pulsars in the bulge generate radiation that can prevent the formation of complex molecules. A middle ground of density is where the best regions for finding naturally life-bearing planets exist in the galactic disk. Naturally habitable worlds will decrease in frequency with both increases in density and decreases in density from this area of best fit. The majority of the natively evolved species in STAR WARS ought to have come from this region, and the majority of economically suitable farming worlds should also come from this region.

IV. The Economy of Hyperdrive

Faster-than-light travel is an energy-intensive procedure in STAR WARS. Each hyperjump consumes more energy than some industrial societies have throughout their history. The energy consumption per jump to and from hyperspace is probably related to the total mass of the ship. The energy consumption of the drives presumably making course corrections while in hyperspace is low compared to sublight acceleration and the jumps to and from hyperspace. Because navigation while in hyperspace is difficult and presumably limited to minute exit-point changes, while depending on pre-jump navicomputer calculations to compute the optimal jump path before beginning it, the denser the region of space, the more difficult navigation is. Keeping systematically accurate star charts is probably of meaningful economic expenditure. The most static regions with the fewest worthwhile destinations probably suffer a kind of collective procrastination. These areas probably include parts of the fringe of the disk and much of the halo. Other regions are simply too dense to be economically navigated by hyperdrive, requiring low speeds and increased maneuvering with a net loss of economical range. This includes the dense interior of the galactic bulge.

Optimal paths across the galaxy from the first homelands of interstellar civilizations to areas of high resources and high trade become entrenched as millennia of opportunistic development along these first path-finding routes increased the marginal economic profits of using them as opposed to less civilized routes, and they enjoyed the most up-to-date and comprehensive mapping (an analogy of development drift in rural communities toward U.S. Interstate Highways may be appropriate). The best route for hyperdrive between two points across the disk is probably a parabola that arcs above or below the plane of the disk into mostly open space, to avoid fuel-intensive maneuvers around the most possible obstructions while remaining as close as possible to a straight-line path.

V. Implications for the Structure of Galactic Civilization

The center of the galaxy is home to a supermassive black hole. Its accretion of surrounding gas and stars generates stupendous amounts of radiation, enough to discourage exploration and to sterilize most of the few worlds in the bulge. The interiors of the bulge are tightly packed with stars, too dense for hyperdrive to economically navigate. As a result of its nonexistent resources and habitable worlds, and extremely hazardous and nearly inaccessible “terrain,” most of the deepest core would remain unmapped and uncharted and free of colonization or habitation. Density of the bulge decreases with distance from the center, and the edges of the bulge are both sufficiently proximal and low-density to be worthwhile for energy extraction. The few habitable world or resources means habitation and colonization beyond that necessary for extraction is probably minimal. The regions of the interior of the bulge uneconomical and difficult but physically possible to navigate may be suitable for hiding secrets.

The areas of the galactic disk where the spiral arms meet each other and the galactic bulge are also the densest regions of the galactic disk and contain the most exploitable raw materials. They will tend to lie beneath the most hyperjumps, and are in close proximity to energy sources in the form of stellar corpses in the less dense edges of the galactic bulge and globular clusters near the galactic center above and below the plane of the disk. If the galaxy's inhabitants do not have strong antipathy for living in artificial habitation, this region may be the most populated and most densely populated region in the galaxy. Ring worlds and space stations and other artificial megastructure habitations may be common. Habitable planets will necessarily be much fewer than in further removed regions of the disk, but possibly still greater than the halo, the edges of the disk, and the bulge. The low number of habitable planets may result in the development of many ecumenopolises or city-planets, or alternatively result in the habitable worlds being a sort of aristocrat-only habitat, or nature preserves of a kind.

The character of galactic civilization changes gradually as one moves further from the galactic bulge, both in the direction of galactic north and galactic south and radially outward. As one moves further out, stellar density declines, as does the proximity of many overlapping hyperlanes, and as does the proximity of closely available energy resources (further from the many globular clusters near the bulge and from the navigatable edges of bulge). As a result, resource extraction, industry, and trade become progressively less economically favorable. The raw number and frequency of habitable and arable worlds progressively increases. These regions produce the most food for the economically robust inner regions that lack available habitable and arable territory proportional to their large population, and where it is presumably cheaper to import food by hyperdrive-equipped freighters than it is to terraform worlds (which may include stabilizing or changing orbits, supplying ocean-masses of liquid water, and radiation shielding, to name a few prerequisites in such hostile terrain ). Also, the majority of natively evolved species call these worlds home. Real estate prices may also be higher in these regions. Presumably akin to terrestrial human society, individuals typically have preferred to live in areas of lower population density and natural surroundings. Galactic civilization probably originated here, but modern economic incentive has turned it into a farming backwater, with some kernels of highly traditional, nostalgic, or eclectic societies dedicated to their ancient heritage. The spiral arms remain dense further out than the gaps between them, and likely are characterized by resource exploitation and trade and dense population centers like the inner regions of the disk, but gradually less so as one moves from the center to the tips of the arms. The majority of the best life-bearing planets will be found slightly above or below the plane of the disk or between the arms where density is generally lower throughout the stars’ orbit.

The further out one moves the less and less trade, industry, and resource extraction, and eventually the density of habitable and arable worlds crests and begins to decline, the increasing distances from the largest markets in the inner regions making agriculture less and less economical. At the edges of the galaxy, there are economically depressed worlds, penal colonies, criminal organizations, and militant resistance to the dominant powers of the galaxy. At the rim of the galaxy the only incentive for habitation or colonization is the relative obscurity and low population. Refugee communities, exiles, criminals, and eccentrics flee from the centers of the galactic population and economy, and local economies of a kind develop to support them. Pirates and smugglers, exiled criminals, and militant groups all present challenges to the law and order in the interior, and the primary incentive of the dominant powers is to maintain the appearance of law and order by disciplining and pursuing such groups, even in such remote quarters.

Even further from the galactic enter, and the hubs of civilization, beyond even the discernable edge of the galactic disk is the halo. Here stars are spread very far and there is little economic or political benefit to colonization or even consistent record keeping. The character of the edges of the galaxy slowly devolves into the nigh-total lawlessness and isolation of the halo, where some groups and polities and refugees simply kept fleeing until they were so small and poor and far away that there was no benefit into chasing them. Many of the groups in the halo may be nomadic, or highly warlike, jealously guarding the handfuls of extractable resources and habitable worlds. Without the galactic economy, their technology is frequently degenerate and substandard. Their living standards are often below that of the galaxy and their states are often much more autocratic, built to ensure survival, and little else. The contact that mainstream civilization has with the halo is minimal and specific. The globular clusters packed close to the bulge above and below the inner regions of the disk are tempting sources for energy extraction. Satellite galaxies may contain few but enough native civilizations, resources, and worlds to be worthwhile contact for the galactic civilization, and halo stars, due to their obscurity, may be tempting locales to hide secrets.

VI. Relating Implications to Canon

My descriptions of entrenched and original efficient hyperroutes encouraging continued development was a rationalization on how three-dimensional travel would have preferential “hyperlanes” such as in the EU. The description of parabolic hyperjump routes intends to illuminate the three-dimensional problem which has been frequently ignored by fan analysts and EU writers alike. Also, by describing the problems with course-correction maneuvering and flight cost-efficiency I hope to explain why such excruciatingly precise calculations are often needed to travel through essentially empty space, as well as to explain the poorly documented Unknown Regions and Deep Core.

The interior of the bulge regions clearly are designated the Deep (Galactic) Core or the Core Systems by STAR WARS denizens. An example of the exploiting the inaccessibility of this region described above in the canon would be Palpatine the Undying's secret storeworlds and enclaves. Including the possibly artificially habitable world Byss where he remained in occultation beyond the reach of the outside galaxy for half a decade.

The edges of the bulge and the surrounding densest regions of the disk are known as the Core Worlds. The habitation tendencies noted are exemplified in the ecumenopolises by Coruscant, Humbarine, Anaxes, Alsakan, Ator, Carratos*, Empress Teta**, Fondor***, Grizmallt, Metellos, Skako, Trantor****, and possibly Wukkar. Examples of the artificial habitats include Hosk Station, the Duros space cities, the ring station around Kuat, and more. Examples of the idyllic park worlds or aristocrat-only worlds include Corellia, Chandrila, Alderaan, and Kuat.

I disagree with the EU cartographers regarding the definition of the Colonies and Expansion Region. For several reasons it is doubtful interstellar civilization was born in the Core Worlds. I think the Colonies are a subset of the annular regions of the disk where the first large interstellar powers (pre-hyperdrive/pre-Republic) spread into their first empires, similar to how the Tion Hegemony designates not a morphological galactic region like the Core Worlds or the Outer Rim Territories, but a historical/political region as the former rear power base of Xim the Despot. However, I suppose it could be a small concentric region between the Core Worlds and the Inner Rim that designated the first Republic colonies after the Unification Wars. Possibly the depths of the spiral arms outside the parts closest to the bulge, where heavy elements and star formation is still common, but not as common as closer to the center and habitable planets are probably less common than in the less dense regions around and between the arms.

As for the Expansion Region, I doubt that the Republic simply set the corporations and robber barons loose on a region the size of the Core Worlds. More likely it is another lapsed historical region formerly given special economic law and subsequent emigration resulted in more regulation and the opening of a new special economic zone in the Corporate Sector.

The Inner Rim and Mid Rim are examples of the traditional and farm worlds I describe. Agriworld-2079 is a specific example of the mass agricultural development exploiting the abundance of naturally hospitable worlds in this region. A good example of the traditionalism would be Naboo.

The Outer Rim Territories is obviously the edge regions I describe. The crusty folk comprehend most of the people we encounter in the films and EU, being mostly criminals and scum or the Rebel Alliance. Tattooine is a good example of relatively poor local economy sprouting up to support a popular criminal port.

The last areas I describe area obviously Wild Space and the Unknown Regions. The areas that are in active contact beyond the rim with the galactic civilization such as the Rishi Maze and her inhabitants, Kamino, whatever contacts the Intergalactic Banking Clan rests its name on, and the globular cluster power extraction industries, I group within Wild Space. The Unknown Regions include the groups outside that, such as (previously) the Chiss - which was the major group I was alluding to in my descriptions -, the Vagaari, the Tofs, the Nagai, and the Killiks (though the Swarm War is outside my personal canon, I'll include them for the sake of completeness).


*Carratos: It is described as an Inner Rim world 40 parsecs away from Coruscant. Granting the EU their often self-contradicting concentric Core World-Colonies-Inner Rim cartography, I doubt a world 40 parsecs away would be in the Inner Rim. The explicit information, combined with the greater likelihood of a city-world in the Core, contradicts the Inner Rim comment, which could easily be a typo.

**Empress Teta: It is described as a Deep Core world, but if the classification of regions does not allow for a plausible understanding of Dark Empire with galactic astrography, nor conforms to meaningful galactic morphology, it is quite useless. Perhaps a less common cartographic classification places Empress Teta in the Deep Core because it lies within the edges of the galactic bulge classified as part of the Core Worlds by most, similar to the Europe/Eurasia debate by cartographers. This document treats the Deep (Galactic) Core as a distinct region that is consistent with galactic morphology as follows from the premise of Dark Empire.

***Fondor: A good example of an under-depicted ecumenopolis - a total factory-planet. It also I believe, has orbital habitats.

****Trantor: Can you believe some hack had the balls to name it that?

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I intend to clean-up/streamline/eliminate redundancy/elaborate parts on this essay and eventually have someone host it. But for now treat it as a rough draft and I'd like people's thoughts.

Illuminatus Primus wrote:The Unknown Regions include the groups outside that, such as (previously) the Chiss - which was the major group was alluding to in my descriptions -, the Vagaari, the Tofs, the Nagai, and the Killiks (though the Swarm War is outside my personal canon, I'll include them for the sake of completeness).

Just a quick typo check: were you intending that to be 'which was the major group I was alluding to in my descriptions'?

Aside from that, it looks excellent to me. Could use a little expansion but otherwise it's a good summation.

Thanks a lot.

I wish I knew a good graphic designer and someone more exacting in their knowledge of galactic morphology. It would be quite nice to have even a hint of the gorgeous visuals and astronomical accuracy Star Trek Cartography boasts. Which would be a nice improvement compare to this inaccurate cartoon map project by fans. I would ask him if he'd been interested in more accurate map work but the typical EU fan analyst's temprament and command of reason makes me doubt it'd be worth it.

That was an excellent essay. Great job.

Very nice; a fine summation. Although I enjoy the much of the EU and the depth it lends to the SW universe, the lack of hard, logical data on the galaxy's composition and the various mechanisms of galactic civilization given in it is quite vexing, and its always good to see people expand upon the subjects, even in an unofficial context. Coincidentally, I've recently been working on background material for my own fictional realm to aide in my writing; this essay has inspired me to think about several alterations and addendums.

Pretty good essay, though you might want to mention some of the older empires with relation to the last part of the essay. After all, some of these areas were probably colonised in the sense that Humans stepped foot on these territories. Prior to that, many of these worlds were already settled, apparently by the Rakata and some of their... genetic creations.

I believe your Outer Rim segment has some typos, this is only my suggestion at editing:

The Outer Rim Territories is obviously the edge region I describe. The crusty folk here comprise most of the people we encounter in the films and EU, being either criminals and scum or the Rebel Alliance. Tattooine is a good example of relatively poor local economy sprouting up to support a popular criminal port.

Brilliant essay, but this segment in particular rubbed me the wrong way.

Like how? The not-so-elaborated Mid, Inner, and Outer Rims kind of bother me, but they're the least example of flaws in existing interpretations.

What about the countless uncharted settlements described by Admiral Ozzel?
Hoth is generally depicted as being in the Outer Rim, so, the quote suggests either Death Squadron has explored large areas of the Unknown Regions or that uncharted settlements can and do exist in the Outer Rim.

If so, this raises questions about the state of galactic cartography along the Outer Rim.

Uncharted settlements aren't the same thing as uncharted systems. They obviously were able to spray worlds with probe droids everywhere, so they knew where Hoth wasand to include it on the list. That doesn't mean they have round-the-clock observation of barren systems to tell if anyone has quietly set up shop without telling anyone.

Indeed there are many places in the USA that don't appear on maps because the are just to small to be worth noting. In a huge galactic society, a planet with only one tiny settlement would qualify as not worth noting.

Such places would be uncharted settlements and this may also include the area deleted we hear about in Attack of the Clones.

Important Considerations:

In STAR WARS, regions do not necessarily have to be continuous: massive morphological regions have more to do with governance and the distribution of society's functions (industry, habitation, mining, trade, etc.) than actually finding your way. Its more akin to topographical or ecological maps than anything. For navigation purposes their navicomputers are sophisticated enough to calculate precise trajectories at hyperlight speed across the galaxy from the interior of one system to another, such general maps are not necessary. For political purposes there are sectorial divisions, much more precise, exacting, and informative. Necessarily a touch of metaphor and generalization will creep into terminology, due to the difficulty of describing the galactic structure and its resultant distribution of societal functions using terrestrial metaphors. For example the Core Worlds likely span the core of the galactic arms - which in a tightly-wound galaxy will tend to lie in a circular region, rather than spread like a starfish -, which is generalized to the core in general. Areas of star formation are difficult for habitable planets to survive in and also the best sources for raw materials.

It is important to remember that spiral galaxies appear as they do to us as a result of the fact we observe visual wavelengths. They are not physical arms, but actually density waves where the orbits of stars bunch up (like cars slowing down to look at an offroad accident on a freeway). The appearance of spiral arms is due to the increased luminosity where the stars bunch up, and more so because this increased density causes gas and dust to be squeezed in fresh, massive stars, that glow brightly and blue, but are short-lived. The distribution of Sun-like medium luminosity stars of longer lifespan is distributed more like a flat disk. The distribution of very old, small red stars is almost spherical (oblate), concentrating in the bulge and gradually spreading out through the halo. The Sun actually lies between two arms within our galaxy, and orbits that limit the duration of stays within the violent, star nursaries of the arms are actually more favorable to the development of life. There are stars, many, above, below, and between the brighest, densest part of the arms, but the luminosity of the young stars and the opacity of the dust render the average stars less visible. It is also important to remember the galactic arms may be narrower, longer, shorter, broader depending on the wavelength you observe them in. The disk does not abruptly end where the visual wavelengths become faint.

Here is a Milky Way VRML model. A more clear representation of the density of stars and the of the various types. According to the website (which also contains a useful gorgeous poster of the Milky Way observed on edge in several wavelengths), "the Milky Way VRML model is based on a statistical representation of the three-dimensional density distributions of stars of various spectral types (colors). Using a VRML browser, the model can be rotated, panned and zoomed. Animations of the Milky Way VRML model are used in the Milky Way video." Here is an artist's illustration.

I figured the Core Worlds are more outlying than many previous interpretations because there must be some naturally-habitable worlds. Perhaps they are rare and coveted, but the chances of finding any in the bulge are scant at best. I figured that the distribution of habitable worlds is shaped similarly to a bell curved normal distribution, with the galactic habitable zone defining the first or second standard deviations to either side of the norm, and decreasing to nil beyond that. I figured this is a better model for a natural phenomenoa than a sharply defined zone. I figured the distribution of areas favorable to mining dropped off in a similar way as you moved into areas of lower density. I figured that the Inner and Mid Rim were mostly areas of the galactic habitable zone, which places them within a swath situated similarly to how Earth is to our galactic center. The Outer Rim must be desolate indeed, perhaps lying mostly beyond the areas of the arms which are discernable to visual wavelengths. The presence of thinner arms within the Inner and Mid Rims suggest there is mining and industry, but the distribution of these activities should highly favor the interior, where all of these economic activites take place in close proximity and between a natural northern and southern confluence of all hyperroutes above and below the plane of the disk.

It is worth noting that many civilizations in the SW galaxy have or had the ability to Terraform worlds that were for whatever reason sterile. It's described as a long and expensive process, but was mentioned a few times as an option for races and peoples who's homeworlds were missing. This would explain the number of habitable worlds where there shouldn't be habitable worlds, they were civil engineering on a grand scale. It is easy to imagine that for whatever reason, world upon world has been reshaped to favor life, for reasons that to modern persons make little to no sense. On the other hand, some worlds like Mustifar may have been de-terraformed so as to make them easier to extract precious resources from, or as an act of war like the Base Delta Zero. And a third class of world like Naboo may be wholly artificial, a kind of cosmic art piece possessed of strange features that serve no discernible purpose. Indeed, anchient aliens flexing their powers to create cosmic monuments may well explain several unusual features of the GFFA.

Illuminatus Primus wrote:Uncharted settlements aren't the same thing as uncharted systems. They obviously were able to spray worlds with probe droids everywhere, so they knew where Hoth wasand to include it on the list. That doesn't mean they have round-the-clock observation of barren systems to tell if anyone has quietly set up shop without telling anyone.

You mistook my meaning. I did not mean to say that the systems are uncharted, indeed, my stance has always been that the Unknown Regions are charted, just not updated. Cartography isn't just meant to display geographical information, but also political boundaries and the existence of cities.

The existence of countless uncharted settlements would suggest that the statements found in the Black Fleet Trilogy not only held true for the New Republic but for the Galactic Empire. Presumably, the upheaval of the Clone Wars was too drastic, with an Emperor focused on consolidation of power over the Core worlds as well as political expansion. Wars of conquest, either political or actual launched in the Galactic Empire days would have similarly disrupted existing settlements, thus providing a push factor, on top of existing economic push factors seen in the refugee movements in AOTC for further colonisation of new worlds.

Thus, the state of the Empire maps, although superior to that held by the Rebel Alliance was presumably always in a state of flux as a result of this. The existence of relatively new colonies as found in the Koornahct Cluster also suggests that the Empire did open up new settlements for colonisation. This would suggest that there still exists significant untapped resources or worlds in the SW universe, leaving potential for expansion.

I somewhere read once, that some Doctors Astrophysics from Australia (not Dr.S in case you're wondering) speculated or had a model, that a galaxy's zone, where habitable planets could exist would increase with advancing age of the galaxy. If this were true and the GFFA is a lot older than our own galaxy then this might explain the huge number of habitable worlds.

On the other side, we do NOT know, how many of the "fifty million colonies, protectorates and settlements" are planet-based and how much of them might be asteroid-settlements or completely artificial habitats.

Concerning colonised worlds we might also have cases, where a world was colonized for a few centuries/millenia, abandoned and colonised a few thousand years later again. I wouldn't be surprised, if during the long centuries of peaceful reign of the GR we have processes comparable to the urbanisation in our world, where huge numbers of OR-mudholes are given up by their population in exchange for life on a city-planet, while during so-called interesting times (like the clone-wars) or the times of the Empire we see new colonies established.

Responses:

I see a lot of people offering counter-arguments or proposals to explain the presence of habitable worlds where their natural presence is unlikely. I agree that it is possible, and in a significant case when it comes to the Core Worlds, Deep Core, and perhaps the Colonies, a significant percentage of habitable worlds are artificial or terraformed. I do not dispute this. In fact, I believe that most or all of the Deep Core worlds are terraformed. In the case of Byss, it would only further underscore the depths and extent Palpatine was willing to go to have his private retreat world.

However, this essay was penned with a perspective toward economics. Hyperdrive, as seen in the films, is a trivial exercise. Moreover, the energy costs are predominantly skewed toward the "jump" process, with minimal energy requirements dedicated to maintaining course and making course corrections en route. This suggests that marginal costs are minimal from a 1000 lyr jump to a 100,000 lyr one. Therefore, it is in nearly all cases more economical to travel the further distance to get to free - i.e., naturally-occurring - life-bearing worlds, than it is to construct one.

In many cases, where aristocrats, corporate leaders, and political leaders have such extreme resources, it is a trivial matter for them to artificially set-up a terrestrial world as a local headquarters nearby their assets in the trade hubs and mining centers.

One should distinguish between the relative cost of constructing a ecumenopolis or a agriworld. Creating an artificially life-bearing world suitable for agriculture is very expensive. Much of the problem with the interior of the disk is with close-encounters with other star systems, which tend to distort the orbits of planets outside the circumstellar habitable zone. Similarly, the radiation from forming stars and supernovae often will sterilize planets of complex life. The largest expenditure in creating artificial worlds is stabilizing the orbit into the circumstellar habitable zone. Synthesizing water is probably a trivial matter that be accomplished with "star lifting" mining of the local primary or alternatively from local gas giants.

Creating an ecumenopolis is actually easier than creating an agriworld, since cityplanets like Coruscant are already totally artificially maintained. That is, since the "goal state" of the planet has it necessarily being on constant active life-support, it does not need to be brought to a state where it would be capable of supporting life in equilibrium. Its orbit and that of worlds like it does not need to lie within the circumstellar habitable zone. The total waste heat from all the people and appliances probably outpaces the heat gain from the local star - in other words, it puts less weight on the local climate control machines if the planet is in a cold orbit. However, the development of cities is pushed by different interests than farms. Cities are created by economic and political incentive on sentient beings. Leaders and executives wish to be close to the centers of economic and political power - the confluence of energy and rawmat resources and galactic trade-routes lies in the center. The population will tend to emigrate to such locations where there is demand for labor and closest to a market in goods and services.

It may be more efficient from hyperdrive's point of view to live on "free" natural life-bearing worlds and commute to the centers of commerce and industry in the interior, but competition for markets and labor will push people to live as close to possible. Crops don't care where they grow, as long as they do. So it makes little sense to grow them on expensive artificial habitats if you can import them with low maginal increases in cost from free habitats.

As a result, I think as you move outward from the galactic center, where nearly all habitats are totally artificial, the proportion of artificial worlds sharply declines. Of the total worlds (artificial and natural) most will be dedicated to dense habitation further in. As you move out, the proportion of artificial worlds continues to sharply decline and the proportion of total worlds changes as more and more include agriworlds. Far enough out there's not enough competition for access to markets in goods, services, and labor to finance a significant proportion of cityplanets and most worlds will be agriworlds. As you move out beyond Earth-like radii from the center, there are almost no artificial worlds, and the proportion of worlds dedicated to supporting the cityplanets as agriworlds declines. Here in the Mid Rim, a great number of worlds have diversified, and often self-sufficient economies. Here is your small towns and odd ancient cultures of the STAR WARS galaxy. Here is Naboo and other worlds like her.

Keep in mind, I'm speaking in generalizations. I tend to look at distributions and proportions in a normal bell-curve distribution-style. When I say there are all artificial worlds. There may be 1 of 10,000 natural ones, but for the purposes of such a broad summary we can say they are entirely artificial in such regions due to the astrographic conditions and economics. In the Core Worlds I think a significant percentage - especially of cityplanets - are artificial.

As for colonization, the fractious events of the Clone Wars doubtlessly damaged the interdependent economies of the interior, and many inhabitants may have later moved out to the Mid Rim or beyond where the economies were more self-sufficient and self-contained.

I thank you for your questions. In the mature form of the essay, I'll discuss the economies of artificial worlds in my essay, and requisite technologies. I'll also structure my findings better and go more in depth regarding the nature of the various regions. Perhaps I will eventually try to craft a map based on fan cartoon maps but correct as much as possible to galactic astrography. I'm going to post an appendix dealing with unusual celestial features, like the Maw and the Corellian System and Naboo. Any suggestions people have on these matters I'd like to discuss. I'm also going to post an appendix dealing with several common misinterpretations that pertain to astronomy in a galactic sense. Stuff like magic ores and crystals and transuranium elements, etc. that somehow are naturally occuring (this is wrong). Stuff about bizarre galactic features, stuff like the nature of gravitational anomalies, the Unknown Regions, why space blockading (on scales greater than planetary) is impossible and how politically-connected regions do not necessary have to be physically continuous, and also to reinforce the three-dimensional characteristics of a galaxy such as the importance of depth from a top-down perspective.

EDIT:

I would like to add that studies regarding the GHZ suggest high-metallicity systems (directly proportional with density and the spiral arms; and inversely with age and radial distance) are likely to create gas giant worlds further in than ours, where they tend to migrate inward to and become the "hot Jupiters" we've observed in the last ten years. This would probably destroy terrestrial-type worlds in the interior of these systems. As a consequence, terrestrial-scale planets may be proportionally rare altogether, which suggests that the existance or non-existance of sophisticated, marginally low cost terraforming technology may be irrelevent, and that a significant percentage of surviving Earth-mass planets in these high-metallicity regions are captured moons of these inner system gas giants. There may be more Yavins in the Core World than the Rim.