6 Mars craters that are named after PH towns

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has landed its most ambitious robotic explorer ever on the surface of Mars on Feb. 18.

And as the world celebrates the Perseverance Mars rover landing safely in Jezero Crater, let's take a look at the names of six Philippine towns that have also reached the Red Planet as well.

According to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature of the United States of Geological Survey, craters larger than 60 kilometers (km) are named after deceased scientists and writers who have contributed to the study of Mars. 

Craters smaller than 60 kilometers are named after towns and villages of the world with populations of less than 100,000.

Below are the Martian craters named after Philippine towns.

Bacolor

The 21.58-kilometer-wide crater is named after the town of Bacolor in Pampanga. According to Mars Odyssey THEMIS, Bacolor lies in Utopia Planitia, a vast, flat region in Mars' northern lowlands and home to distinctive-looking craters.

Camiling

Named after the town in Tarlac, this crater measures at 21.91 km in diameter. 

Daet 

The Daet crater, which has a diameter of 10.5 km, is named after the town in Camarines Norte. The name was approved in 1976.

Naic

The miniature Naic crater is named after the town in Cavite. It measures 8.3 km in diameter.

Solano

Named after the town in Nueva Vizcaya, the Solano crater is a 9-km-wide Martian crater.

Taytay

The 18.17-km crater named after the town in Palawan is an impact crater in the Oxia Palus quadrangles of Mars. Its name was adopted in 2006.

Impact craters are craters on planets or moon caused by the impact of meteorites or other objects, typically circular with a raised rim.