KUON GEO

The Moon, named after China

36 named features. The International Astronomical Union records why each name was chosen, and those reasons are printed below exactly as they were approved.

FEATURES · 36

NAMETYPESIZEWHY THAT NAME
Mons Songmons114 kmNamed from terrestrial Mount Song Shan, in Henan, China.
Mons Huamons65 kmNamed from terrestrial Mount Hua, in Shaanxi, China.
Bi Shengcrater55.3 kmChinese inventor (c. 990-1051).
Wan-Hoo (Van-Gu)crater53.3 kmLegendary Chinese inventor.
Shi Shencrater46.5 kmShi(H) Shen; Chinese astronomer (unkn-c. 300 B.C.).
Cai Luncrater44.9 kmChinese inventor (c. 57-121).
Chang Hengcrater42.7 kmChinese astronomer (78-139).
Zhang Yuzhecrater38 kmChinese astronomer (1902-1986).
Kuo Shou Chingcrater33.5 kmChinese astronomer (1231-1316).
Tsu Chung-Chicrater28.5 kmChinese mathematician (430-501).
Mons Taimons24 kmNamed from terrestrial Mount Tai, in Shandong, China.
Rima Wan-Yurille13.7 kmChinese female name.
Mons Hengmons10.6 kmNamed from terrestrial Mount Heng, in Hunan, China.
Xu Xiakecrater10 kmChinese geographer, traveler during the Ming Dynasty (1586-1641).
Rima Sung-Meirille3.9 kmChinese female name; part of Aratus CA.
Tianjincrater3.9 kmConstellation name in the ancient Chinese star map; means “celestial ford” or “Galaxy’s ferry.”
Zhinyucrater3.8 kmConstellation name in the ancient Chinese star map, and the name of the fairy in the Chinese folk tale “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.”
Ching-Tecrater3.7 kmChinese male name.
Chang-Ngocrater2.3 kmChinese female name.
Hegucrater2.2 kmConstellation name in the ancient Chinese star map, which contains the star Altair, also known as Niulang, the cowherd who marries Zhinyu in the Chinese folk tale “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl.”
Pei Xiucrater2.2 kmChinese geographer, cartographer during Jin dynasty (224-271).
Song Yingxingcrater1.8 kmChinese scientist and encyclopedist during the late Ming Dynasty (1587–1666).
Liu Huicrater1.5 kmChinese mathematician during Wei kingdom (about 225-295).
Zhang Zhongjingcrater1.5 kmChinese pharmacologist, physician, inventor during the Eastern Han dynasty (150-219).
Shen Kuocrater0.9 kmChinese astronomer, mathematician during the Song Dynasty (1031-1095).
Su Songcrater0.7 kmChinese scientist during the Northern Song Dynasty (1020-1101).
Tai Weicrater0.5 kmOne of three enclosures in Chinese ancient star map.
Tian Shicrater0.5 kmOne of three enclosures in Chinese ancient star map.
Li Bingcrater0.4 kmChinese hydraulic engineer of the State of Qin during Warring States period (~302-235 B.C.).
Li Shizhencrater0.4 kmChinese pharmacologist, physician, and naturalist during the Ming Dynasty, author of Bencao Gangmu (1518-1593).
Xu Guangqicrater0.4 kmChinese agronomist, astronomer, mathematician during the Ming dynasty (1562-1633).
Zi Weicrater0.4 kmOne of three enclosures in Chinese ancient star map.
Guang Han Gongother0.1 kmMoon palace where Chang-E and Yutu lived in Chinese mythology; Chang’e-3 landing site.
Statio Tianchuanothern/aChinese constellation name, which means ship sailing in the Milky Way; Chang’e-5 landing site.
Statio Tianheothern/aAncient Chinese name for the Milky Way, a sky river that separates Niulang and Zhinyu in the Chinese folk tale “The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl"; Chang’e-4 landing site.
Statio Tianjiangothern/aConstellation name in the ancient Chinese star map; means “the celestial river”, synonymous with tian he, the Milky Way; landing site of Chang’e 6.
Names and their origins come from the IAU Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature (USGS Astrogeology), retrieved 2026-08-14.
All named features ｜ KUON THE MOON map ｜ About the map ｜ Every landing site on the Moon
DATA: IAU / USGS Astrogeology · NASA LRO LOLA