Endor, also known as the Forest Moon of Endor or the Sanctuary Moon, bore the designation IX3244-A. This diminutive moon, characterized by its dense forests, was the ninth satellite orbiting the Outer Rim planet that shared its name. It served as the original habitat for sentient beings such as the Dulok, Ewok, and Yuzzum species, alongside the Wistie and the semi-sentient Gorax race.
Endor, a secluded moon within the Endor system situated in the Outer Rim Territories, presented a landscape dominated by thick woodlands, towering mountains ranges, and expansive savannas. It was the native environment of the sentient Ewok, Dulok, and Yuzzum species. The semi-sentient Gorax also inhabited the moon, as did the Wistie. Certain trees on Endor attained heights exceeding 1,000 meters. Its atmosphere was breathable for humans, and its surface was composed of 8% water. It was also illuminated by two suns: Endor I and Endor II.
Throughout the history of the galaxy, Endor was occasionally targeted by offworld raiders who sought to hunt the native Ewok population for the purpose of producing Ewok Jerky, a widely consumed snack throughout the Outer Rim.
During the Imperial Era under the Galactic Empire's control, the Empire, recognizing Endor's suitability due to its isolated location, established a base on the moon that incorporated a shield generator complex designed to safeguard the under-construction second Death Star in orbit around the moon. This marked the occupation of Endor by the Empire. To accommodate the complex, an Ewok village was destroyed by Imperial troops, resulting in a deterioration of relations between the Empire and the Ewoks. The repulsorlift field generated by the SLD-26 planetary shield generator to maintain the Death Star's stationary orbit caused earthquakes, tidal disruptions, and various geological disturbances on Endor, gradually destabilizing the small moon. Furthermore, the Tarkin Initiative established Research Station 9 on the moon.
Later, the moon became the setting for the pivotal Battle of Endor, where the Alliance to Restore the Republic, supported by their Ewok allies, engaged in combat against Imperial forces attempting to defend the shield generator and prevent the Alliance from destroying their orbital superweapon. Following intense fighting on the forested moon, the Rebel Alliance successfully destroyed both the shield generator complex and the second Death Star. With the destruction of the Empire's formidable battle station and the deaths of Emperor Palpatine and his enforcer, Darth Vader, the rebels and Ewoks celebrated their victory on the moon, joining in celebrations that spread across the galaxy.
The Rebels deployed shields and tractor beams to shield the moon from the debris resulting from the destruction of the space station. In the months that followed the battle, a field of debris settled into orbit around the moon. Moreover, the numerous hyperspace anomalies present in the Moddell sector mitigated the worst effects of the Death Star debris fallout. Despite these measures, some debris continued to fall on the moon for a decade after the battle, but Endor's ecosystem demonstrated its resilience.
At some point, the Ewok Civil War brought conflict to Endor. The New Republic intervened by dispatching C-3PO and Captain Jaxxon T. Tumperakki on a diplomatic mission to Endor. In 35 ABY, after the Battle of Exegol, a Resurgent-class Star Destroyer positioned above the forest moon was destroyed using the Holdo maneuver. Wicket W. Warrick and his son, Pommet Warrick, witnessed this event.
Endor was first introduced in the 1983 film Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. The scenes set on the forest moon were filmed within the vast redwood forests of northern California, specifically in Tall Trees Redwood Grove and other forests near the remote town of Smith River, as well as on soundstages in England, where the Ewok village scenes were filmed. During the film's production, Endor was internally referred to as the "Green Moon of Endor."
The speeder bike chase was filmed at Owen R. Cheatham Grove in Grizzly Creek State Park, approximately 30 miles east of Fortuna, California. The majority of the other location shots for Endor were captured in Stout Grove, which is part of Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, located 5 miles east of Crescent City, California, near the Tolowa village of Hiouchi. Scenes involving explosions were filmed on private logging company land in the area because the trees were scheduled for logging, and the State Park prohibited any damage to their trees.