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Scientists Discover New Planet That Sounds Like Star Wars' Mustafar
Scientists have discovered a new planet that sounds like Star Wars' Mustafar. Many key events in Star Wars occurred on Mustafar, with the majority of those moments resulting in tragedy. The lava planet is best known as the site where Darth Vader lost a duel and his limbs to his former master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.
Mustafar was the beginning and the end of many things. It was the start of the Galactic Empire and the evil Darth Vader who would terrorize the galaxy. However, it also marked the complete end of the fallen Jedi Anakin Skywalker that once was, as well as the conclusion of the Clone Wars and Anakin's great love, Padme Amidala. Ironically, Vader later made Mustafar his home planet, building a castle there he resided in during Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Vader also attempted to resurrect Padme with a Mustafar relic called the Brightstar. He failed to bring her back, but as a result of his actions, Mustafar began to return to the planet full of life that it once was before it devolved into a molten monolith of tragedy and fire.
In an interesting real-life twist, scientists have discovered an actual Mustafar-esque planet they've classified as planet K2-141b. According to a new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society and summarized by CBS News, the new discovery is a "scorching hot planet, hundreds of light-years away, [where] oceans are made of molten lava, winds reach supersonic speeds and rain is made of rocks." As if that doesn't sound terrible enough, the planet is classified as a 'lava planet," or, "a world that so closely orbits its host star that much of it is composed of flowing lava oceans." One side of the planet reaches temperatures of over 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit while "the rest of the planet is cloaked in never-ending darkness, reaching frigid temperatures of negative 328 degrees Fahrenheit."
The description of the newly discovered planet eerily sounds just like Mustafar. Thankfully, there's no morally conflicted Sith lords in real life looking for a new home. However, it's definitely a testament to Star Wars' cultural influence that a real-life scientific discovery has fans immediately drawing Mustafar comparisons. What makes Mustafar so memorable is the planet's connection to one of if not the best Star Wars characters of all time. It was no surprise Kylo Ren would venture to Mustafar in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. However, by the time Kylo arrived on Mustafar, the planet was unrecognizable, gradually healing like the soul of the planet's former resident, the redeemed Anakin Skywalker.
Star Wars is famous for many reasons, one of the most notable being the variety of interesting and diverse planets. Mustafar set the stage for many turning points in Star Wars lore, including one of the best lightsaber duels of all time. Hopefully, nobody will ever have to worry about having the high ground on planet K2-141b.
