It's the asteroid chase, as the Falcon barrel-rolls down under a large asteroid, and starts to skim the surface of the HUGE asteroid (where they end up). The potato flies left to right at the camera, followed CLOSELY by the running shoe. This question was actually cleared up on the Behind the Magic discs, complete with screen grabs. Also, if you've got the Anamorphic LD rip of Empire someone, I believe it's Ralston, comments on putting the potato into the scene, partly to blow off steam, partly to see just what an audience can and can't percieve on film. It's the asteroid chase, as the Falcon barrel-rolls down under a large asteroid, and starts to skim the surface of the HUGE asteroid (where they end up). The potato flies left to right at the camera, followed CLOSELY by the running shoe. This question was actually cleared up on the Behind the Magic discs, complete with screen grabs. Also, if you've got the Anamorphic LD rip of Empire someone, I believe it's Ralston, comments on putting the potato into the scene, partly to blow off steam, partly to see just what an audience can and can't percieve on film.