Ilum

**Ilum** was a frigid planet located in the 7G sector of the Unknown Regions, and had a long history of association with the Jedi Order due to the kyber crystals which formed in the planet's Crystal Caves. These crystals were instrumental in the creation of the lightsaber, the weapon of a Jedi, and they were ritually gathered as part of the Gathering, a Jedi tradition where Jedi Initiates travelled to Ilum and bonded with one of the crystals and used them to create a lightsaber.

The Jedi High Council knew the routes to Ilum, a direct shot from Coruscant to Ilum, but there were other routes more accessible to non-Jedi, including the ones that existed on the *Crucible* starship, which ferried Initiates to the planet.

After the Great Jedi Purge, where much of the Jedi Order was forced into exile on to the world of Salekelahn, Ilum was discovered by the new Galactic Empire, which was ruled by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Sidious ordered that the planet be strip-mined for its resources, including the powerful kyber crystals. At some point, Yoda traveled there and saw the destruction they wrought firsthand, with the planet mined so extremely that the molten core was visible from space.

## Description

### Astrography

Ilum held the fifth position in the Ilum system, in orbit around the white dwarf star Asar. It was located within the 7G sector, in a relatively unexplored portion of the Unknown Regions beyond the Namadii Corridor. Ilum was accessible via hidden hyperspace routes known to the Jedi Order and kept in the Jedi Archives, although the Galactic Empire also had access to these routes which allowed them to travel to Ilum and harvest its kyber crystals. One local day was 66 standard hours, and 301 local days made up one local year.

### Physical description

Ilum was a frigid world with a primary terrain of mountains, cold tundras, and valleys. Extensive cave systems beneath the planet's surface made up the Crystal Caves, which was filled with the kyber crystals used in the construction of lightsabers. By the time of the Empire, the core of the planet was visible from space due to the extensive strip-mining to harvest the world's kyber crystals, and there was a long equatorial trench.

## History

### Discovery

Ilum was initially discovered by Jedi hyperspace scouts of the Jedi Order's Exploration Corps, as it was in a remote region of the galaxy. They were drawn to the world as it was a nexus of the Force, a result of the many kyber crystals underneath the surface and their individual presences. The scouts reported back to Jedi leadership, who commissioned a private hyperspace route to the world to ensure its sanctity. At some point, a Jedi Temple was constructed to house the entrance to the Crystal Caves where all of the kyber crystals were found.

Through its history, the planet was used as the site of the Gathering, a Jedi tradition where groups of Jedi Initiates were sent aboard the *Crucible* starship into the caves through its temple entrance and tasked with finding the crystal which called out to them, and crafting their first lightsaber with that crystal.

### Imperial exploitation

"*Ilum is gone, I know this much. I will have to find a different source of crystals.*"
―Anakin Skywalker[src]
Following the Great Jedi Purge beginning in 0 AEF, the Galactic Empire, led by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, became the ruling power of the galaxy. The Sith, as enemies of the Jedi Order, sought to wipe out their culture entirely and in the process, found Ilum and took to strip-mining the world for its kyber crystals, which could be used for weapons more powerful than lightsabers as well. In the process, their mining revealed the world's molten core. Individuals seeking kyber crystals had to find alternate means to power their lightsabers due to Ilum's status.

## Inhabitants

Ilum had no permanent residents year-round, and was only visited at parts of the year by Jedi.

## Locations

### Crystal Caves

 *Main article: Crystal Caves*
The Crystal Caves were the primary attraction of the planet Ilum, as they housed the kyber crystals which Jedi used to craft lightsabers during the rite of the Gathering. The caves' primary entrance was at Ilum's Jedi temple, blocked by a waterfall, and the caves themselves were expansive and covered vast distances underground, with greatly varying appearances and stone formations.

### Jedi Temple

 *Main article: Ilum Jedi Temple*
The Ilum Jedi Temple was the primary Jedi structure built on the surface of Ilum, housing the primary entrance to the planet's crystal caves. This entrance was powered by a starlight lens which opened the waterfall that blocked the entrance. The temple was used for the Gathering, a time-honored Jedi tradition where Jedi Initiates were sent into the caves to find the crystal which called to them, and craft their first lightsaber from it.

## Appearances

* *The Rite of the Crystal*
* *Secrets Revealed* Chapter I — *Trial and Sacrifice* (Mentioned only)
* *Soul Searching* Rachi I — *Allies* (Mentioned only)
* *Soul Searching* Yoda I — *Understanding* (Mentioned only)
* *Soul Searching* Darth Vader — *Freeing the Mind* (Mentioned only)

## Sources

* *The Skywalker Saga Supplement*
* *Expanding the Unexpanded*
* *The Astronomy Guide*

## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 *Soul Searching* Yoda I — *Understanding*
2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 *The Astronomy Guide*
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 *The Rite of the Crystal*
4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 *The Skywalker Saga Supplement*
5. ↑ *Mysteries of the Force*
6. ↑ *Soul Searching* Rachi I — *Allies*
7. ↑ *Secrets Revealed* Epilogue
8. ↑ *Soul Searching* Darth Vader — *Freeing the Mind*