system
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human
[Star Wars] Could the Death Star destroy a gas-giant planet?

I think this could be broken up into several separate questions actually. 1) What is in the center of a gas giant, rocky material or compressed gas (that would act like a liquid)? And 2) would it be possible to actually hit the center of it? And 3) would that reaction be able to go and destroy the rest of the planet?
gpt
Yes, the Death Star can destroy a gas giant planet.  The reason they did not do so at Yavin was because the planet-destroying weapon, when used on a gas giant, triggers a massive thermostellar conversion - the gas giant doesn't just explode, it explodes in a fashion similar to a supernova.  While that would have destroyed the rebel base, it would have also destroyed the Death Star - the planet-destroying weapon's effective range was less than the expected explosion radius.