Planet | Mars |
---|---|
Region | Meridiani Planum |
Diameter | 19 kilometres (12 mi) [1] [2] |
Bopolu is an impact crater located within the Meridiani Planum extraterrestrial plain of Mars. [2] Bopulu was seen by Opportunity rover in 2010 in the distance, and with some of its rim visible. [2] Bopoplu was officially named in 2006 along with 31 Mars craters. [3] Research has indicated that the impact that is thought to have created Bopulu went so deep that it went through existing layers and ejected older material from Mars' Noachian period. [1] Bopulu is a 19 kilometres (12 mi) diameter wide crater south of the Opportunity MER-B landing site, a rover which operated in the region starting in 2004 and therefore resulted in greater exploration and study of craters in this region. [1] Bopulu was identified as a possible source for the Bounce Rock ejecta fragment [1] Bounce rock, which was examined by the MER-B rover, was found to be similar in composition to the shergottite class of Mars meteorite found on Earth (Meteorites found on Earth determined to be from Mars). [1]
Bopulu is said be younger than the Burns Formation that predominates in the area. [4] Bopolu has been studied, along with Tooting crater, to try and better understand the geology of Endeavour crater which MER-B rover reached and could explore in situ. [5]
Bopolu is named for a town in nation of Liberia (see Bopolu, Africa); the name was approved by the IAU in September 2006. [6] Bopolu crater has a feature ID of 14185. [6]