knapplc
International Man of Mystery
There's a bit of a kerfluffle over this in the Football forum so I figured an explanation would be in order.
A parsec is a measurement of distance derived from a right triangle projected out from the solar system, with the smallest axis equivalent to the Earth's distance from the Sun (~93 million miles), or, one Astronomical Unit. Based on that number, a parsec is about 3.26 light years. A parsec is an Earthly measurement, but sounded futuristic enough that George Lucas used it in his 1977 space drama.
The Kessel mines were the source of a profitable drug, found only on Kessel, the sale of which was closely guarded by the Empire with heavy ships, Imperial cruisers (Star Destroyers). Smugglers would take the spice through a nearby field of Black Holes where Imperial cruisers wouldn't patrol. The faster the ship, the closer the smuggler could skirt the edges of the black holes without being drawn to their death.
In Solo's boast, he claims the Millennium Falcon is so fast it could fly closer to the edges of these black holes than any other ship, thus shortening the distance he had to travel (12 parsecs instead of the X parsecs other, slower ships had to take) and getting through to the other side, and freedom.
Tying this together a bit more, just before the events of Star Wars, Solo bought some spice with capitol from a gangster, Jabba the Hutt. Solo made the run in the Falcon, but as he emerged from the field of black holes on the other side of the Kessel Run, a Star Destroyer just happened to be there. The Falcon was caught, was going to be boarded and searched, so Solo dumped his shipment, losing the spice but getting away from the Imperials. Hence Greedo's line in Star Wars, "Jabba's through with you. He has no use for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser." The disastrous loss of his shipment meant Solo was not only still broke, but had to pay Jabba back the money he'd loaned Solo for the venture.
Han shot first.
A parsec is a measurement of distance derived from a right triangle projected out from the solar system, with the smallest axis equivalent to the Earth's distance from the Sun (~93 million miles), or, one Astronomical Unit. Based on that number, a parsec is about 3.26 light years. A parsec is an Earthly measurement, but sounded futuristic enough that George Lucas used it in his 1977 space drama.
The Kessel mines were the source of a profitable drug, found only on Kessel, the sale of which was closely guarded by the Empire with heavy ships, Imperial cruisers (Star Destroyers). Smugglers would take the spice through a nearby field of Black Holes where Imperial cruisers wouldn't patrol. The faster the ship, the closer the smuggler could skirt the edges of the black holes without being drawn to their death.
In Solo's boast, he claims the Millennium Falcon is so fast it could fly closer to the edges of these black holes than any other ship, thus shortening the distance he had to travel (12 parsecs instead of the X parsecs other, slower ships had to take) and getting through to the other side, and freedom.
Tying this together a bit more, just before the events of Star Wars, Solo bought some spice with capitol from a gangster, Jabba the Hutt. Solo made the run in the Falcon, but as he emerged from the field of black holes on the other side of the Kessel Run, a Star Destroyer just happened to be there. The Falcon was caught, was going to be boarded and searched, so Solo dumped his shipment, losing the spice but getting away from the Imperials. Hence Greedo's line in Star Wars, "Jabba's through with you. He has no use for smugglers who drop their shipments at the first sign of an Imperial cruiser." The disastrous loss of his shipment meant Solo was not only still broke, but had to pay Jabba back the money he'd loaned Solo for the venture.
Han shot first.
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