Celestial/Legends

The Celestials, also known as the Architects, were an ancient civilization who were present long before the dawn of the Galactic community. Whatever is known of the Celestials is the subject of xenoarcheology.

History
The origins of the Celestials were largely unknown. It was believed that the Celestials were the race (or one of many races) responsible for the creation of The Maw and the Corellian system. The Celestials were also credited with having moved the planet Vultar to its final location and in a similar fashion having constructed the Hapes Cluster, Kathol Rift, Cron Cluster and the hyperspace tangle that bisected the galaxy. The lowest levels of the planet Kessel had massive amounts of Celestial technology, which almost destroyed the entire planet in 43.5 ABY. Ben Skywalker theorized that the Celestials may have constructed Centerpoint Station and created the Maw in order to contain Abeloth. Sinkhole Station, similar in appearance to Centerpoint, also had possible ties to the Celestials. Similarly, it had been speculated that the hyperspace divide that separated the western galaxy from the broader galactic community was done by the Celestials to isolate the Mnggal-Mnggal predatory species or to hedge the expanding Infinite Empire.

Galactic politics
It was theorized that the perceived threat of the Celestials was the primary motivation for the ancient Sharu to conceal their civilization around 1,000,000 BBY, as well as the reason for the Columi's self-imposed seclusion. The Killiks, used by them as laborers, and the Kwa, whose Infinity Gates were based on Celestial technological principles, were some of the species which had contact with this enigmatic race. By 30,000 BBY, the Celestials' power had waned to such a degree that the Rakata were able to dominate other systems on a large scale without competition.

Legacy
When a transcended Luke Skywalker was brought to Pool of Knowledge by the Mind Walkers, the Mind Walkers told the Luke that when they had invited Jacen Solo to bathe in the pool, he had declined their offer, telling them that he did not want to become like the Celestials and have all of the knowledge of the universe. The Aing-Tii Prophet claimed the Celestials would re-appear within his lifetime. Abeloth is believed to have some connection to the Celestials.

Behind the scenes
The Celestials may be named after the identically-named species in Marvel Comics, which are 2,000-foot-tall mysterious "space gods" with enormous powers who interfered with other species across the universe. "Hyperspace aliens" is a fanon nickname of the otherwise undescribed aliens who according to Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game, gave the hyperspace technology to Humans.

According to The New Essential Chronology, the Rakata were the originators of the technology, from where the Corellians adopted it, giving therefore a possible solution to the "mystery", though the book refers to the Architects, the famed hyperspace aliens, separately from the Rakata signifying they were only a part of the Architects 'myth'.

In The Essential Atlas, the Architects were equated with the Celestials and several star clusters and astronomical phenomena were identified as being a result of their manipulation.

The Architects belong to the "Ancient vanished precursors" concept of many science fiction and fantasy works. The Forerunners, from Halo, are one such example; the Protheans from Mass Effect are another example of a species who disappeared at the peak of their civilization; the Stargate series' Ancients are yet another. In Star Trek, our galaxy was first explored by a race of ancient humanoids, who "seeded" numerous planets with their DNA (explaining why, beyond such superficial differences as pointed ears and ridged foreheads, nearly all sentient species have an essentially "Human" appearance). Also, the wormhole network builders from Carl Sagan's "Contact", are an example of this theme. The Rakata also somewhat fit in this archetype in the KOTOR storyline.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
 * Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu
 * Star Wars: Rebellion
 * Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
 * Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
 * Outcast
 * Abyss

Notes and references
Celestial Architekci