Outer Rim Planets

What makes a planet outer rim? Based on the films, it cannot be just its location. The best known outer rim planet is Tatooine. I used to think it was outer rim because of its location. But based on TPM, that cannot be the case. Tatooine is not far away from Naboo, a prominent member of the Republic.

This got me thinking. In order for a planet to be a member of the republic, do they have to have an established, stable government? Naboo is peaceful, stable democratic monarchy. Tatooine is the "Old West" with no central government or control. It is a planet controlled by the mafia (the Hutts). THe planet is also ripe with crime and instability (the constant fighting amongst moisture farmers and Tuskens).

COuld it also be that a planet has to offer something in order to be part of the Republic. Naboo is a lush world that appears to be technologically sophisticated. They would have a lot of resources to offer the Republic. Tatooine, on the other hand, is a barren wasteland. They don't really appear to offer the Republic anything, other than a burden.

What do you all think, what makes a planet an outer rim planet?

 

Naboo is a Mid-Rim planet. Check any galactic map. Tatooine is futher out from the Core than Naboo, and it is located in the Outer Rim Territories.

 

I don't think a planet's sophistication levels have anything to do with it's "geographical" location in the universe... the reason so many "rim" worlds are less populated is that most people prefer to live in the "Core Worlds" just as most people here live closer to big cities for the covinience it offers.

 

Yeah but Bib, Tatooine can't be too far away from Naboo, because in TPM, the Royal ship went there with a damaged hyperdrive.

Plus in a galaxy where space travel is so easy, there has to be more reason than just distance for why a world is not part of the Republic.

 

Right, Tatooine isn't very far from Naboo. They're both near the border of the Mid-Rim and Outer Rim. Like I said, look at any galactic map.

 

Bib, the purpose of this thread is too discuss whether there are anymore deeper underlying reason for why a planet is outer rim besides just its location.

 

Nope, it is all geographically based.

There is the Deep Core, which is where the Koornach Cluster is close to the center of the galaxy. Then the Core where Coruscant, Borleais, etc. are located, since they are close to the deep core. The mid-Core worlds are fairly close to the core. Then you get to the mid-Rim worlds, which are fairly far away from the Core. The Outer-Rim is some of the farthest planets from the Core. Then there are the Unknown Regions and the Outlier systems, both of which are not well known and located around the edge of the galaxy.

 

Yep, location is the only determining factor on whether a planet is Outer Rim or not.

 

The Outer-Rim planets do get their names from their location. I mean, look at the names. The Inner-Rim planets, like Coruscant are closer to the "bright center of the universe" as Luke calls it, while outlying planets like Tatooine is not.

 

Yup, listen to Bib, dude. Look at the many Star Wars maps that have been made over the years.

They clearly show the sections of "Mid Rim", "Outer Rim," etc. And it's all geographically based.