Asteroid-Helix

OnACanonArticle

For other uses, see Helix.

"He says he was trying to get into a ruin, out on the Asteroid-Helix by Karga—old Force cult shrine, he thinks."
―Chelli Aphra, on Korin Aphra[1]

The Asteroid-Helix was an asteroid field located near Karga. One of the asteroids, Asteroid Helix 13-v, was the location of an ancient Force cult temple, which received a number of pilgrims over the years. Long after the cult had disappeared, the Rebel Alliance used Asteroid Helix 13-v as a temporary base, which was later investigated by the Galactic Empire following the rebels' departure.

Description

The Asteroid-Helix was an asteroid field located near Karga, consisting of a number of asteroids of varying shapes and sizes situated in a cylindrical spiral pattern. One of the asteroids in the Asteroid-Helix was Asteroid Helix 13-v, and was large enough to build a sizeable structure within. Asteroid Helix 13-v had enough of an atmosphere for humans to survive on its surface.[1]

History

"Signal the fleet. Dispatch bombers. The rebels are not here. That is all the exploration I require."
"B-but—but, Mister Vader, you can't destroy this place! It's uni—"
―Darth Vader and Korin Aphra[1]

Sometime prior to the time of the Galactic Empire, Asteroid Helix 13-v, one of the asteroids in the field, was settled by a Force cult of the J'doon school, who turned the asteroid into a Force shrine. Over the shrine's history, it was visited by a number of pilgrims, though was eventually abandoned.[1]

The Empire bomb Asteroid Helix 13-v.

The Empire bomb Asteroid Helix 13-v.

By 3 ABY,[2] Asteroid Helix 13-v had been used as a temporary base for a cell of the Alliance to Restore the Republic, who were preparing to travel to their next headquarters on[1] the ice planet[3] Hoth.[4] While exploring the Asteroid-Helix, the scholar Korin Aphra encountered the rebel cell, who gave him supplies and sent him away. The rebels eventually departed the shrine,[1] but left behind hidden cameras.[4]

After being captured by the Empire, Korin Aphra informed them of the rebel base, and the Sith Lord Darth Vader traveled to the Asteroid-Helix alongside Aphra and his daughter, the rogue archaeologist Chelli Aphra. The two Aphras investigated the shrine, finding traces of the rebels' presence. After experiencing a Force vision, Vader declared the expedition to be concluded, ordering TIE bombers to destroy the asteroid once they had left.[1]

Behind the scenes

The Asteroid-Helix first appeared in the comic Doctor Aphra (2016) 38, written by Simon Spurrier, illustrated by Caspar Wijngaard, and published by Marvel Comics[1] on November 6, 2019.[5] Jason Fry, author of the "Star Systems of the Galaxy" appendix of star systems that was released alongside the "Star Wars Galaxy Map" map on StarWars.com on June 24, 2025, stated on his personal Substack that the Asteroid-Helix was among a number of systems that were intentionally unlisted due to being codenames or lacking defined coordinates.[6]

Appearances

Wiki-shrinkable
Explore all of Wookieepedia's images for this article subject.

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Doctor Aphra (2016) 38
  2. ↑ Doctor Aphra (2016) 38 takes place shortly before Doctor Aphra (2016) 39, at which point Echo Base has been constructed on Hoth, and prior to Empire Ascendant 1, which in turn takes place before the Battle of Hoth. Star Wars: Galactic Atlas states that Echo Base was constructed in 3 ABY and places the Battle of Hoth in the same year, meaning that the events of Doctor Aphra 38, including the appearance of the Asteroid-Helix, are set in 3 ABY.
  3. ↑ Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Doctor Aphra (2016) 39
  5. ↑ Marvel-TemplateLogo Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2016) #38 on Marvel Comics' official website (backup link)
  6. ↑ Substack-Favicon About That New Star Wars Galaxy Map… by Jason Fry (@jasonfry) on Substack (June 24, 2025) (backup link)