Where in the Galaxy Is Andor Now?

It’s time again to journey back to a distant galaxy, and nowhere within Star Wars feels as richly developed and inhabited as Tony Gilroy’s series, Andor. The complexity of its themes on rebellion and fascism often overshadows the science fiction aspect of it being a Star Wars show. In season 2, the titular Rebel spy travels to various worlds, some old and some new, which can be quite a lot to keep up with. Here’s a helpful guide to the numerous planets (and moons) referenced by characters in Andor’s second season. There are no spoilers for unbroadcast episodes, but there are references to events already confirmed in the broader Star Wars universe.

Season-One Planets of Note

Apart from the significant planet Coruscant (to be discussed later), Andor’s second season does not return to any of the planets featured in its first season. However, a couple are mentioned, so let me provide a quick summary.

Kenari serves as Cassian’s native planet, a largely untouched jungle realm that met its doom due to Imperial mining operations which wiped out the rest of its inhabitants. However, Cassian, who was once called Kassa, managed to avoid the same grim fate as his people when Maarva saved him from the destruction.

On the mining planet of Ferrix, we are introduced to Cassian, Bix Caleen, Brasso, Wilmon Paak, and the late Maarva. The planet known for its rebellious spirit, Ferrix, was left in turmoil at Maarva’s funeral, forcing Cassian and his group to escape. During this uprising, Dedra Meero was on Ferrix, finding herself in deeper trouble than anticipated as she searched for the Rebel agent she referred to as “Axis.

In the first person perspective, I’d say:

I found myself on Morlana One, a watery world that held a crucial clue about my long-lost sister, during the early episodes of season one. A deadly altercation with a guard piqued the curiosity of a young security officer named Syril Karn, who began digging deeper. Eventually, his path crossed with mine and later, Dedra’s as well, forming an intriguing connection.

On the mysterious world named Aldhani, Cassian performed his inaugural assignment alongside Luthen Real, as they orchestrated a heist from an Imperial vault during the Eye, a breathtaking meteor shower. This marked Cassian’s initial encounter with Vel Sartha.

• Niamos is the planet known for its fantastic dance clubs and pulsating music! That’s where Cassian sought refuge, only to learn that escaping conflicts isn’t always an option.

• Cassian’s exile was to the dystopian planet Narkina-5, a place from which he managed to escape and transform into a dedicated Rebel fighter. It was here that he crossed paths with Melshi, who later joined him in battles – ultimately sacrificing their lives together in Rogue One. As of now, Kino Loy may still be residing on Narkina-5. (😞)

Sienar

Test Facility 73

The second season of Andor begins with Cassian making off with a new TIE fighter from a remote facility nestled in the snowy peaks of an unnamed planet, tentatively referred to as Sienar. Although this name has not been seen before in Star Wars, Sienar Fleet Systems is a significant entity within both current and former “Legends” canons. This corporation manufactured various TIE fighter models for the Empire, deriving its name from the powerful Sienar family who ran SFS. It’s suggested that Luthen means Sienar refers to the planet or moon where the TIE fighter was constructed when he says they know Cassian left Sienar. The facility, Test Facility 73, seems to be set amidst a frigid landscape with towering mountains, cliffs, and floating icebergs, which Cassian skillfully navigates as he escapes.

Mina-Rau

Outer Rim

As a devoted Star Wars fan, I’ve recently discovered that Cassian’s fellow refugees from Ferrix, Bix Caleen, Wilmon Paak, and Brasso, have established their base on an Outer Rim planet named Mina-Rau. Interestingly enough, this is the first appearance of Mina-Rau in the Star Wars franchise, and it seems to be a vast expanse of wheat fields, reminiscent of the one-biome planets we often see in Star Wars. From what an Imperial mentioned, there’s a city called Rau, though he described it as not being very substantial.

This agricultural planet is crucial for the Empire, serving as its breadbasket, and ensuring the wheat is harvested and exported is of utmost importance. The need for farmhands is so great that officials often turn a blind eye to undocumented workers like our friends from Ferrix.

Chandrila

Mothma Estate

In the upcoming second season of Andor, we’ll be visiting Senator Mon Mothma’s home planet, Chandrila, a stunningly mountainous and verdant world. Known for its opulence and deep-rooted traditions, Chandrila is also where Mon harbors some resentment towards these very traditions. The first three episodes of season two will unfold around a traditional Chandrilan wedding at the Mothma estate, a grand property adorned with circular courtyards, round doors, and intricately decorated surfaces. Mon and her cousin, Vel Sartha, seem to share a disdain for their home world’s rigid customs, which have somewhat lost their relevance over time: Mon jokes that there hasn’t been a traditional three-day Chandrilan wedding since her own arranged marriage to her estranged husband, Perrin, during their teenage years — an experience that didn’t exactly turn out well. Despite these traditions appearing outdated, they are making a comeback, as evidenced by Lieda and her companions who aspire to become the Chandrilan version of traditional housewives.

Steergard

At Lieda Mothma’s wedding, one of the attendees happens to be the father of someone in the Imperial Navy. He shared that he’d just been relocated from Steergard, a planet I’ve heard quite a bit about despite its absence in Andor‘s initial season. Interestingly, this significant Imperial Navy hub was frequently mentioned due to a theft of Imperial materials from its base that sparked Dedra Meero’s suspicion about Luthen’s secret anti-Imperial alliance.

Yavin IV

In episode three, we don’t discover it until the end, but Cassian flying his stolen TIE fighter over pyramid ruins in the jungle confirms that this location is none other than Yavin IV, which would eventually serve as a Rebel base, as depicted in both Rogue One and A New Hope. This moon, the fourth of a giant red-gas planet, was named Yavin. It’s covered in dense jungle, and the ancient pyramids were built by the Massassi, an extinct species who could have once been enslaved by the Sith.

In the future, Cassian will find Yavin IV more accommodating as it becomes the hidden Rebellion headquarters and is properly established; however, this doesn’t occur during the initial storyline (Year 4 BBY) when the series begins, since there’s no base at that point. Initially, Yavin IV was meant to be a discreet location for Cassian to hand over his stolen TIE fighter to another Rebel operative. Unexpectedly, he gets captured by stranded rebels, under the leadership of Maya Pei, who had been referenced in season one.

The Maltheen Divide

Orson Krennic’s covert meeting on Ghorman’s control is held in a remote mountain building, referred to as the Maltheen Divide. Although this name isn’t found on Wookieepedia, it could be associated with Malthee, a city located on the planet Kinyen. In Star Wars: Age of Rebellion (a game that falls under the “Legends” canon), the Empire demolished Malthee following the resistance from its native Gran aliens who refused Imperial rule. This destruction occurred between 5 BBY and 2 BBY, around the same era as Andor.

Could it be possible that the location of the former city, now referred to as the Malthee Crater, shares a connection with the Maltheen Divide? Is it conceivable that Imperial official Krennic would convene a clandestine gathering so close to the site of an Imperial fiasco? Given how Andor‘s second season is shaping up towards an act of Imperial inhumanity so heinous it sparked widespread resistance, it seems improbable that they have already annihilated an entire city. The Massacre at Malthee remains non-canon, and although Krennic’s meeting could potentially have taken place on planet Kinyen, this has yet to be verified.

Coruscant

In the second season of Andor, the significant planet known as Coruscant, home to the Galactic Senate, ISB headquarters, Luthen Rael’s antiquities store, and countless people and aliens, returns prominently. First introduced in early ’90s content that is no longer considered canonical and making its named film debut in The Phantom Menace, Coruscant holds a crucial role in the galaxy due to being the center of the Emperor’s power (and previously, the Jedi Council). Although we don’t delve deeply into Coruscant during the first arc of season two because main characters Luthen and Mon Mothma are on Chandrila for a wedding, we do catch glimpses of Kleya, Luthen’s assistant, using the shop’s potent secret subspace transceiver to get a message from a missing Cassian. Additionally, we see the apartment shared by Syril Karn and Dedra Meero – a stark white space that feels as comfortable as a prison on Narkina 5.

Ghorman

In Andor’s second season, it appears that the key planet is likely Ghorman, which was merely introduced in the initial storyline but will significantly impact subsequent episodes. This celestial body is styled as a space-age equivalent of Nazi-occupied France and is renowned for its fashion trends, primarily exporting silk from its spiders. However, it’s not just the spiders that make Ghorman unique; buried within the planet lies a precious metal called Kalkite. The Emperor claims he needs this metal for his energy project, but we suspect it’s actually for constructing the Death Star. If an alternative isn’t discovered, the Empire plans to exploit Ghorman through extreme mining methods, which could potentially lead to the planet’s core collapsing.

The events unfolding on Ghorman significantly shape the course of the rebellion, serving as a pivotal milestone that will be a key topic in the remaining season’s narrative. While specific details about what transpires during the Ghorman Massacre are not yet definitive, it is clear that this incident will have a profound impact, much like a lightning rod for conflict. In the previous “Legends” continuity, the Ghorman Massacre took place in 18 BBY when General Wilhuff Tarkin, a high-ranking Imperial officer portrayed by Peter Cushing in “A New Hope” and digitally in “Rogue One,” landed his starship on peaceful protesters. However, in the current canon, the massacre happened in 2 BBY, and the exact circumstances remain uncertain. In an interview, Tony Gilroy expressed enthusiasm about having clarified this significant moment.

2025-04-23 16:56