Galactic Rotation & Irving Kershner

Sean Howard · Post by **Sean Howard** » 2004-09-23 11:36am

I asked here a while back about theories on the galaxy at the end of ESB. The consensus was that it was not a galaxy, but a nebula or black hole or something on that order of size. Even at those sizes, the rotation still requires speeds in excess of light, but I guess its an order of magnitude more reasonable.

My personal theory is that it was always meant to be a galaxy, and its only now in hindsight and doing the calculations that anyone is claiming its something else.

I just watched the ESB commentary on the new DVD set, and Irving Kershner calls the object in question a galaxy. Where does Irving Kershner's commentary fall in the heirarchy of canon?

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-09-23 11:52am

Apparently, it´s one of the two dwarf galaxies that accompanies the main SW galaxy. In AOTC, when Obi-Wan is studying a map of the galaxy, one of the two on each side is said to be the same as the one in ESB.

My guess to the rotation? The fleet is traveling at some kind of faster-than-light-speed and is thus circleing this galaxy, in the great empty void. Probably even further out than Kamino.

Where statements by Irwin Kershner stands, canonically, I don´t know.

Sean Howard · Post by **Sean Howard** » 2004-09-23 11:59am

Yes, this makes sense. Perhaps their Hyperdrive causes weird visual effects like this.

A much more satisfying explanation than its actually a nebula or something.

Mange · Post by **Mange** » 2004-09-23 12:04pm

Yeah, I also noticed this listening to the commentary for ESB. Remember that Irvin Kershner didn't have anything to do with the special effects, but I don't know what was mentioned in the screenplay.

VT-16 · Post by **VT-16** » 2004-09-23 12:13pm

I think they said something about "outside the galaxy, in the great empty void" or something. Either way, it fits with what we see in both Episode II and V. It also explains why the Falcon is seen going "upwards", away from the disk, instead of directly towards it. Maybe the main disk was "above" the smaller galaxy, as seen from the angle of the fleet.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-09-23 07:20pm

Commentary is not canon under Suspension of Disbelief.

And Saxton has sources which called it a nebula.

Personally, it don't know if could be anything larger than a planetary-scale body with that kind of rotation.