Dragon's Spine (asteroid field)
The Dragon's Spine, situated in proximity to the planet of Tatooine, was a notable asteroid belt in that region. While it provided a navigational reference for area explorers, accounts of starships impacting asteroids were not uncommon. During the era of the Galactic Civil War, the Dragon's Spine was the site of a dispute between the criminal organizations led by Lady Valarian and Jabba the Hutt.
Description
The Dragon's Spine, a vast structure, stood as one of the most ancient asteroid fields within the Tatoo [star system](/article/star_system-legends]. It was located just beyond Tatooine, a significant planet within the system. The field stretched across the vastness of space surrounding the planet and was generally considered safe enough to serve as a navigational aid for numerous explorers.
History
Prior to the Boonta Eve Classic in 32 BBY, an unidentified spacer hailing from another galaxy collided with an asteroid while traversing the field. This incident caused their starship to go into a spin, ultimately resulting in a crash on Tatooine, near Mos Espa.
Jabba the Hutt, a local crime lord, was greatly displeased that his Whiphid rival, Lady Valarian, maintained a military presence within the Dragon's Spine during the peak of the Galactic Civil War. During this period, even the Galactic Empire directed its fleets to avoid the Spine and the ongoing conflict within the asteroid field.
Behind the scenes
Only a small number of sources depict an asteroid field in close proximity to Tatooine, as it is absent from all six Star Wars films. The first such depiction appeared in the 1993 video game Star Wars: Rebel Assault. The field also made an appearance in Star Wars Math: Jabba's Game Galaxy, an educational video game released in 1999, as well as in the now-defunct Star Wars Galaxies, where it was initially referred to as the Dragon's Spine.