Discovered 1916 Apr. 2 by S. I. Belyavskij at Simeis.

Named in honor of the Norwegian Arctic explorer Fridtjov Nansen (1861–1930). With his ship “Fram” he explored the vicinity of the North Pole (1893–1896). Nansen is also known as statesman who, in 1922, received the Nobel Peace Prize. (H 84)

Nansen is also honored by craters on the Moon and on Mars.