Utrecht University researcher takes Bunnik to Mars
Crater on Mars is now called 'Bunnik'
On 14 June 2016 an impact crater on Mars was officially named 'Bunnik’ after the village southeast of Utrecht. It was named by earth scientist Dr. Tjalling de Haas of Utrecht University, who conducts research into the presence of liquid water on Mars over the past millions of years. For that De Haas has made use of the many impact craters on the planet.
The names of planets, comets and other discoverable structures in the universe are allocated by the International Astronomical Union. When certain craters are essential for a scientist’s research, they may make a proposal to name the crater. A committee from the International Astronomical Union decide whether or not to assign the proposed name. Earth Scientist Tjalling de Haas undertook research on a number of craters on Mars that were at that point unnamed. He suggested the name of 'Bunnik' for one of these craters.
Debris flows
De Haas examined the occurrence of liquid water on Mars over the past few million years. He studied alluvial fans, which are common landforms in an area affected by natural forces. They may, both on earth as well as on Mars, be formed by debris flows among other things. De Haas analysed the alluvial fans on the crater walls to calculate how much water flowed on the planet in the last million years. He concluded that it was more than originally thought.
A homage
Bunnik was not the only name proposed by De Haas as a crater name: Langtang in Nepal, Nqutu in South Africa and Talu on West Sumatra all have a namesake on the red planet thanks to a proposal from De Haas. Langtang was suggested by fellow Utrecht University earth scientist Walter Immerzeel, who carries out research into the direct consequences of the earthquake in Nepal in 2015. Langtang was one of the villages that was completely destroyed by massive landslides. Immerzeel saw it as a nice tribute for one of the Martian Craters to be named after the Nepalese village. What’s more, the Langtang Crater also contains deposits of landslides
The eighth crater
Bunnik is the eighth crater to be named after a Dutch city. Others include Amsterdam, Vaals and Urk.