Physics and Star Wars
To estimate the effects of the second Death Star, Minton looks into its mass. According to estimated data from some students of Lehigh University, the steel mass needed for building one would be around 770 kilograms times the mass cubed in weight. This would give the Death Star of about ten to the power of nineteen kilograms in mass. Using this data, Minton produces equations that lead him to conclude the fragments would hit the moons surface so hard causing craters almost four times the size of the Chicxulub crater in Mexico. This impact would cause a planetary firestorm and vaporize all lifeforms on the moon.
Sand star
The sand star has a small disc and five long, flattened arms with tapering tips. It can grow to a diameter of , and is a grey, greenish-grey, or pale brown colour, sometimes speckled with white. The arms have rows of large marginal plates, each with several spines, but these are not visible from the aboral (upper) side. The tube feet have no suckers, but instead end with blunt points. The sand star could be confused with "Astropecten verrilli", but in that species, the large marginal plates are visible from above. This starfish seems to be easily damaged, and often breaks in pieces if raised from the seabed by trawling. Even when brought up intact, it often has missing or regenerating arms, perhaps the result of attacks by predatory crabs or fish.