Tag: Star Wars
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Not so far, far away: How the Star Wars galaxy falls short of the real-life search for planets
Luke Skywalker’s home planet, Tatooine, and its two suns are a good example of science echoing Star Wars. Or is it the other way around? (Lucasfilm Photo) Over the past 42 years, filmgoers have seen exotic worlds come to life in a succession of Star Wars movies — a series that is now coming to…
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Vonda N. McIntyre, 1948-2019: Final novel adds to Seattle science-fiction star’s legacy
Vonda McIntyre, 1948-2019. (SFWA Photo) Vonda N. McIntyre, a leader of Seattle’s science-fiction community who made her mark with “Star Trek” novels as well as the Clarion West Writers Workshop, has passed away at the age of 70. McIntyre was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer eight weeks ago — but she managed to complete her final…
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CNN survey suggests support for Space Force doesn’t match Star Wars appeal
News Brief: A CNN survey suggests most Americans don’t back the Trump administration’s plans to create a new military branch known as the Space Force. The survey, based on a sampling of 1,002 American adults, showed that 55 percent would rather keep the Air Force in charge of protecting U.S. space assets. Phil Larson, a…
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‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’: Trailer makes a splash, and ticket websites avoid a crash
Luke Skywalker looks worried in the new trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” (Disney / Lucasfilm via YouTube) The Force is clearly with “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.” The trailer for Episode VIII of the movie saga made its debut in the midst of Monday Night Football, kicking off ticket sales for the Dec.…
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International Space Station lab’s mission patch goes all in on a Star Wars theme
The latest mission patch for research payloads intended for the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory has a Star Wars theme. (CASIS / Lucasfilm Graphic) Factual and fictional worlds collide in the latest mission patch associated with the International Space Station’s role as a U.S. national laboratory. Virtually every element on the patch ties in…
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From 1979 to 2017: How we’ve changed since the Northwest’s last total solar eclipse
When the daytime sky darkens on Aug. 21, it’ll be the first time in more than 38 years that a total solar eclipse can be seen from the mainland U.S. A lot has changed since Feb. 26, 1979, when the track of totality stretched across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. But the interest in the…
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‘Space sisters’ plan stratospheric eclipse balloon mission: Which Lego lady should they fly?
Rebecca and Kimberly Yeung are getting ready to fly their third balloon — this time alongside other citizen scientists. (Photo Courtesy of Winston Yeung) The Seattle sisters behind a series of missions to launch Lego toys into the stratosphere on high-altitude balloons are at it again. This time, they’re teaming up with the pros at…
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And so it begins: First trailer for ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ turns to the dark side
Did you feel a disturbance in the Force? As if millions of Star Wars fans suddenly cried out in delight? That upswing in the midichlorian count was caused by the release of the first online trailer for “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” teasing us with the silhouette and voice of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. The two-minute…
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‘Rogue One’ and more: 10 big-screen tales of science fiction (and fact) to watch for
Felicity Jones stars in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” (Disney / Lucasfilm Photo) Mild spoiler alert! This review doesn’t reveal any major plot twists, but wait to read it if you don’t want to know a single thing about “Rogue One” or other science-fiction films. Tonight’s the first chance most of us will have…
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Star Wars fans jam up ‘Rogue One’ ticket websites – and get new trailers to watch
Jyn Erso, played by Felicity Jones, in “Rogue One.” (Disney / Lucasfilm via YouTube) The past 24 hours have brought good news and bad news for throngs of Star Wars fans who are eagerly awaiting “Rogue One,” the next installment in the film saga. Let’s start with the bad news: Many of those fans faced…