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Bespin

the gas giant of Cloud City

Bespin was a gas giant in the Outer Rim Territories, mined for valuable Tibanna gas from the floating metropolis of Cloud City. Long unaffiliated, it was seized by the Empire during the Galactic Civil War.

By Joe Garratt

Bespin was a gas giant in the Anoat sector of the Outer Rim Territories, best known for the floating mining colony of Cloud City, which extracted the planet's valuable Tibanna gas from a narrow breathable layer high in the atmosphere. A prosperous and largely independent world, it was drawn into the Galactic Civil War when the Galactic Empire garrisoned the planet and seized Cloud City, before recovering its freedom after the Empire's defeat at Endor.

A gas giant of cloud cities#

Bespin was a vast gaseous world some 118,000 kilometers in diameter, attended by two moons. It completed a full orbit of its star roughly every fourteen standard years and rotated once every twelve standard hours. Within its breathable atmospheric layer floated its settlements, the largest being Cloud City, alongside Chinook Station. The planet's wealth rested on the mining of Tibanna gas, its chief export, drawn from the gas giant's depths. From the upper reaches of Cloud City, sunsets were said to last as long as two hours.

History#

During the Clone Wars, the Separatist general Grievous led forces that invaded several worlds and blockaded a number of vital hyperspace routes, including those leading to Bespin, Kessel, and Mon Calamari, within the span of a single month. Through the wider Galactic Civil War the planet remained officially unaffiliated, but its neutrality did not spare it: the Galactic Empire garrisoned Bespin and seized control of Cloud City and its lucrative mining operation.

With the Empire's defeat at the Battle of Endor, the gas giant and its prosperous mining colony recovered their freedom. The planet's resistance to outside domination continued into a later age, and by 35 ABY Bespin was in open rebellion against the First Order.

Frequently asked questions

What is Bespin?
Bespin was a gas giant in the Anoat sector of the Outer Rim Territories, best known for the floating mining colony of Cloud City. The planet's wealth rested on the mining of Tibanna gas, its chief export, drawn from a narrow breathable layer high in the atmosphere.
What is Cloud City on Bespin?
Cloud City was the largest of Bespin's settlements, a floating colony within the planet's breathable atmospheric layer that extracted Tibanna gas. From the upper reaches of Cloud City, sunsets were said to last as long as two hours, and the planet also held Chinook Station.
What happened to Bespin during the Galactic Civil War?
Although Bespin remained officially unaffiliated through the Galactic Civil War, its neutrality did not spare it. The Galactic Empire garrisoned the planet and seized control of Cloud City and its mining operation, but with the Empire's defeat at the Battle of Endor, the gas giant and its colony recovered their freedom.
How big is Bespin?
Bespin was a vast gaseous world some 118,000 kilometers in diameter, attended by two moons. It completed a full orbit of its star roughly every fourteen standard years and rotated once every twelve standard hours.
Was Bespin involved in the Clone Wars?
During the Clone Wars, Separatist general Grievous led forces that invaded several worlds and blockaded a number of vital hyperspace routes, including those leading to Bespin, Kessel, and Mon Calamari, within the span of a single month.

Gallery

Bespin — image 2
Bespin — image 3
Bespin — image 4
Bespin — image 5

Images via Wookieepedia

Sources

  • WikiBespinWookieepedia entry

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