Tianjin (crater) explained

Coordinates:-44.93°N 178.81°W
Diameter:3.9 km
Depth:Unknown
Eponym:Constellation name in ancient Chinese star map

Tianjin is a lunar impact crater that is located within Von Kármán crater on the far side of the Moon. The crater is located northeast of the landing site of the Chinese Chang'e 4 lander.[1] [2]

The crater's name was approved by the IAU on 4 February 2019.[3] It is based on an ancient Chinese constellation of the same name (天津), which is a character in the traditional myth The Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. The literal meaning is “Celestial Ford”, the Milky Way is known as “Celestial River” (天河) in China.

Notes and References

  1. https://asc-planetarynames-data.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Lunar/lac_119_wac.pdf LAC-119
  2. https://asc-planetarynames-data.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Lunar/lac_120_wac.pdf LAC-120
  3. https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/15784 Tianjin