What does BBY mean in Star Wars?

Last Modified Apr 17, 2023 07:29 GMT
What does BBY mean in Star Wars?
Source: Official Facebook Page of Star Wars

BBY in the Star Wars universe stands for Before the Battle of Yavin. BBY is a method of keeping track of time in the far-off galaxy that alludes to a crucial period in Star Wars history.

“Before the Battle of Yavin” is abbreviated as “BBY.” The final battle in “Star Wars: A New Hope” takes place on the planet Yavin, where Luke Skywalker destroys the first Death Star and prevents the Rebel Alliance from being completely destroyed.

“After the Battle of Yavin” is referred to as “ABY.” BBY is a countdown, with 0 BBY standing for the year of the Battle of Yavin. The Battle of Yavin was fought in ABY 1, which begins counting up from that same year.

In the real world, eras of time are denoted by the nomenclature CE (the "Common Era") and BCE (the "Before the Common Era"). However, there is no year 0 in the calendar of the real world. Instead, Year 1 in BCE and CE corresponds to the Christian belief in the birth of Jesus Christ. Before BCE and CE, historians referred to the periods as BC and AD, which stood for Before Christ and Anno Domini, respectively.

The following are some notable dates from the "Star Wars" timeline:

  • Star Wars: The Phantom Menace: BBY 32

  • Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: BBY 22

  • Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: BBY 19

  • Obi-Wan Kenobi: BBY 9

  • Star Wars: A New Hope: BBY 0

  • Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back: ABY 3

  • Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: ABY 4

  • The Mandalorian: ABY 9

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens: ABY 34

  • Star Wars: The Last Jedi: ABY 34

  • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: ABY 35

What is Yavin?

Yavin is a fictional planet in the “Star Wars” galaxy that is also referred to as "Yavin Prime" to distinguish it from its moons. It was first depicted as a sizable red gas giant with a vast satellite system of moons in the 1977 film “Star Wars.” On its fourth moon, Yavin 4, the Rebel Alliance's covert military outpost is situated.

The Rebel Alliance destroys the Death Star in the film's climactic space battle, which takes place in orbit around the planet Yavin. This event is particularly important to the “Star Wars” fandom and the “Star Wars” expanded universe because it is one way to designate a historical era in the fictional Star Wars universe.

Yavin
Source: Official Facebook Page of Star Wars

The Massassi ruins are a collection of ancient temple ruins where the Rebel Alliance has built a covert base. To keep an eye on entrances and exits from the base, tall observation towers rise above the treetops. The Death Star, the Empire's enormous space station with the power to obliterate entire planets, is a threat to the Yavin Base once it has been discovered by the Galactic Empire.

With only seconds left before the Yavin moon is destroyed, the Rebellion attacks the Death Star with X-wing and Y-wing starfighters. Luke Skywalker then uses proton torpedoes to destroy the Death Star. The heroes receive decorations for their bravery during a triumphant award ceremony on Yavin, which brings the movie to a close. Its date serves as a reference point for events in the expanded Star Wars universe. This conflict is now known as the “Battle of Yavin.”

Is Andor’s timeline important?

The first scene of Andor episode 1 states that it takes place in the year BBY 5, which is significant for both the plot of the show and the larger “Star Wars” universe. Andor stays fairly close to the events of “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” which took place in the year 0 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin), because they directly preceded those of “Star Wars: A New Hope.”

Then, Andor reverses time by just five years, allowing it to develop Cassian Andor's (Diego Luna) character from his early days in the still-emerging Rebel Alliance to the one we see in “Rogue One.”

Andor’s timeline
Source: Official Facebook Page of Star Wars

Both of those are expertly captured by Andor, who examines the empire's middle management at a rarely seen level while also gradually demonstrating the convergence of the various rebellious factions.

For this reason alone, Andor's timeline of BBY 5 is essential because it marks both a crucial turning point when the disparate rebel cells start to unite and a period when Imperial ranks are so bloated and overconfident that it explains how they could be defeated by smaller forces.

FAQs

A. BBY stands for “Before the Battle of Yavin” in the Star Wars Universe.
A. ABY stands for “After the Battle of Yavin” in the Star Wars Universe.
A. Yavin is a red giant planet, with numerous moons.

Related Stories

Ahsoka episode 6: Far Far Away- Ending explained Ahsoka episode 6: Far Far Away- Ending explained
Ahsoka episode 6: Far Far Away- Ending explained
Complete list of all U.S. theaters showing Ahsoka episode 5: Full roster Complete list of all U.S. theaters showing Ahsoka episode 5: Full roster
Complete list of all U.S. theaters showing Ahsoka episode 5: Full roster
Luigi Mangione's terrorism charges dropped in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case: Key details explored Luigi Mangione's terrorism charges dropped in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case: Key details explored
Luigi Mangione's terrorism charges dropped in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case: Key details explored
5h
Who is Sibylle Szaggars? All about Robert Redford's wife and children as actor dies at 89 Who is Sibylle Szaggars? All about Robert Redford's wife and children as actor dies at 89
Who is Sibylle Szaggars? All about Robert Redford's wife and children as actor dies at 89
1d
Executive producer of 'The Charlie Kirk Show' breaks silence on Bill Ackman's relationship with political commentator Executive producer of 'The Charlie Kirk Show' breaks silence on Bill Ackman's relationship with political commentator
Executive producer of 'The Charlie Kirk Show' breaks silence on Bill Ackman's relationship with political commentator
1d
ABC and Disney executives reportedly did not think Jimmy Kimmel said anything over the line but feared retaliation from Trump administration ABC and Disney executives reportedly did not think Jimmy Kimmel said anything over the line but feared retaliation from Trump administration
ABC and Disney executives reportedly did not think Jimmy Kimmel said anything over the line but feared retaliation from Trump administration 
2h
Piers Morgan wonders why Jimmy Kimmel is being "heralded as some kind of free speech martyr" after he "lied about Charlie Kirk's assassin" Piers Morgan wonders why Jimmy Kimmel is being "heralded as some kind of free speech martyr" after he "lied about Charlie Kirk's assassin"
Piers Morgan wonders why Jimmy Kimmel is being "heralded as some kind of free speech martyr" after he "lied about Charlie Kirk's assassin"
1h
DJ Akademiks accuses Iggy Azalea of DM'ing him to get Playboi Carti canceled by alleging "very criminal things about him" DJ Akademiks accuses Iggy Azalea of DM'ing him to get Playboi Carti canceled by alleging "very criminal things about him"
DJ Akademiks accuses Iggy Azalea of DM'ing him to get Playboi Carti canceled by alleging "very criminal things about him"
What was Robert Redford's net worth? Actor and director's career earnings explored after his death at 89 What was Robert Redford's net worth? Actor and director's career earnings explored after his death at 89
What was Robert Redford's net worth? Actor and director's career earnings explored after his death at 89
1d
University of Kansas decides not to punish or fire employee who said Charlie Kirk is “better in the ground as worm food” incurring backlash University of Kansas decides not to punish or fire employee who said Charlie Kirk is “better in the ground as worm food” incurring backlash
University of Kansas decides not to punish or fire employee who said Charlie Kirk is “better in the ground as worm food” incurring backlash
21h
Sportskeeda logo
Close menu
WWE
WWE
NBA
NBA
NFL
NFL
MMA
MMA
Tennis
Tennis
NHL
NHL
Golf
Golf
MLB
MLB
Soccer
Soccer
F1
F1
WNBA
WNBA
down arrow icon
More
bell-icon Manage notifications