Scientists recently discovered a planet with oceans of lava on its surface. The planet, namedGj 367b, is smaller than Earth. To be more specific, the planet is three quarters the size of our own home world. This means that the scientific discovery is larger than Mercury, but slightly smaller than Mars. Gj 367b is approximately 30 light years away from Earth. Many have noticed that the planet is similar to a famous scene featuring iconicStar WarsvillainDarth Vader. In his first fight with Obi Wan Kenobi, they face off in the fictional planet Mustafar.
In the final prequel,Revenge of the Sith, Anakin Skywalker, now known as Darth Vader, goes into conflict with his former masterObi Wan Kenobi. The extended fight sequence takes place on Mustafar, which like Gj 367b, is covered with lava.Eventually, Darth Vader is burned horrifically by the lava, which results into his complete transformation into the Sith Lord.
On the popular animated seriesStar Wars: The Clone Wars, Darth Vader as Anakin Skywalker, makes another appearance on Mustafar. In this point in the franchise’s timeline, his skin is not scarred. He and his apprentice Ahsoka Tano go to the lava planet to save babies who possess the power of the Force. The babies were being held captive by droids in service to the Emperor. Skywalker and Tano defeat the droids by pushing them into the lava. The babies are then reunited with their loved ones. The story of Mustafar on the TV show has a much happier ending than the one in the movie.
The real life planet was discovered revolving around a red dwarf star named Gj 367. There is no known star that Mustafar revolves around. If such a star exists inStar Warscanon, then it does not have nearly the significance that the planet holds for the character of Darth Vader. His rebirth took place because of the wounds he suffered while on the planet. Without Mustafar, there would be no iconic costume, or breathing device.
With the known information, scientists can reach the conclusion that the planet can reach temperatures high enough to completely destroy iron. As droids inStar Warsare made of metal and were easily destroyed by lava, this could mean that Gj 367b’s lava could destroy any robots sent to the area.
Unlike Mustafar, humans in reality do not know much information on Gj 367b. InStar Wars,Darth Vader had enough data to be able to easily travel to the lava planet. Humans on Earth do not have the knowledge nor the technology necessary to travel to the real life planet covered with lava. In the climactic scene with Vader, miners in the background were visible. Life forms knew how to develop work sites on Mustafar with the known data.
With the newly discovered planet, people can make a connection to an important moment for both Darth Vader and theStar Warsseries. Both Mustafar and Gj 367b are mostly, if not entirely, covered in lava. If there can be planets encased in lava, there might be other planets in the real universe that are similar to other locations in the sci-fi franchise. There could be planets covered in water, like Kamino, or sand, like Tattooine. The discovery of Gj 367b could prove to be as important for scientists as Mustafar was to Vader.
