The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has approved eight Chinese names for features around the area on the Moon where China's spacecraft Chang'e-5 probe landed last year to collect samples from the lunar surface and return to Earth.

The Chang'e-5 space mission is China's maiden attempt to retrieve materials from an extra-terrestrial body. It was launched on November 24 last year.

It was the first attempt to bring the lunar samples in over 40 years after the US sent astronauts to the Moon to collect samples.

"The IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature has approved eight names for features on the Moon in the vicinity of the Chang'e-5 landing site: Mons Hua, Mons Heng, Pei Xiu, Shen Kuo, Liu Hui, Song Yingxing, Statio Tianchuan, and Xu Guanqui. For more information, please see the LAC-23 map in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature,'' the IAU said in a press statement issued on May 24.

China has been naming geographical entities on the Moon since 2010.

In September, 2010 China's Ministry of Civil Affairs published the official Chinese names for places on the Earth's moon, in a first that eliminates confusion and will help the nation's lunar exploration efforts, according to the official media here.

(With input from agencies)