1955 RX. Discovered 1955 Sept. 13 at the Goethe Link Observatory at Brooklyn, Indiana.

Named in memory of Otto Struve (1897–1963), last of a remarkable astronomical lineage. His greatgrandfather, Wilhelm Struve {see planet (768)}, founded the Pulkovo Observatory in 1839; his grandfather (Otto), uncle (Hermann) and father (Ludwig) were also distinguished astronomers. Following a period of great privation and misery after World War I, he was invited by Edwin B. Frost {see planet (854)} to come to Yerkes Observatory in 1921. He started working in spectroscopy and remained a spectroscopist to the end of his days. He succeeded Frost as Yerkes director in 1932 and was the major force responsible for the establishment of the McDonald Observatory in 1933. Managing editor of the Astrophysical Journal from 1932 to 1947, he raised it to the preeminent position it now occupies. He became head of the astronomy department of the University of California in Berkeley in 1950, and he served as director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory from 1960 to 1962. He served as president of the IAU during 1952–1955. (768) Struveana is named for three of his ancestors; following in their footsteps, Otto Struve received the Royal Astronomical Society’s gold medal in 1944. (M 8912) Name proposed by F. K. Edmondson.

Struve is also honored by a lunar crater.