The International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved the names of geographic features on the moon, including the Chang'e-4 probe landing point, China's National Space Administration announced at a press conference Friday.

The International Astronomical Union approved the names of geographic features on the moon. (Photos: People's Daily)

The landing point of the Chang'e-4 probe was named Statio Tianhe, with the three craters around the landing point called Zhinyu, Hegu and Tianjin. The central peak in the Von Karman Crater where Chang'e-4 probe landed was called Mons Tai. The IAU approved the names on February 4.

The Zhinyu Crater

The approval of the five names offers location standards and fundamental data for scientific research domestically and abroad.

The Hegu Crater

Naming geographic features started in Europe in the 17th century. The IAU is responsible for the management and approval of that.

The Tianjin Crater

The IAU has approved seven names of geographic features on the moon applied by China for the Chang'e-1 probe in August 2010 and Chang'e-3 probe in October 2015. 

Mons Tai

China's Chang'e-4 probe, launched on December 8, landed on the Von Karman Crater in the South Pole-Aitken Basin on the far side of the moon on January 3.