Timeplain curiosities · Just for fun
A long time ago, measured from one turning point. Star Wars dates useBBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) and ABY(After the Battle of Yavin). Explore where a year sits on that timeline.
Star Wars timeline
5 BBY
5 years before the Battle of Yavin.
Why does Andor open with “BBY 5”?
The opening episode places Cassian’s story five years before the Battle of Yavin. “BBY 5” and “5 BBY” express the same year. It is a signpost for the audience: the characters do not know that this future battle will become a reference point.
What happened at Yavin?
The Battle of Yavin is the battle at the end of A New Hope, when the Rebels destroy the first Death Star. BBY years count down toward it; ABY years count up after it.
How does this explorer handle zero?
This is a simplified whole-year timeline: −5 becomes 5 BBY and +4 becomes 4 ABY. Zero marks the Battle of Yavin itself. Dates within its surrounding year can be labeled 0 BBY or 0 ABY; this explorer does not distinguish months or days on either side of the battle.
Can I convert today’s date?
There is no official alignment between Earth’s calendar and the Battle of Yavin. This tool explores fictional years rather than assigning today an invented Star Wars date.
Read more about BBY and its appearance in Andor, or try our Star Trek stardate calculator.