1954 UN₂. Discovered 1954 Oct. 28 at the Goethe Link Observatory at Brooklyn, Indiana. (*M 14166)

Named in honor of John {Henry} B{arrows} Irwin {1909–1997}, professor of astronomy at Indiana University from 1948 to 1964. His paper published in Science on 1952 Feb. 29 was the first step in the series of events that led to the establishment of a national observatory in the U.S., Kitt Peak {see planet  (2322)} being chosen as the site on 1958 Mar. 1. (M 25652)

Name proposed by F. K. Edmondson.

Obituary published in Bull. Am. Astron. Soc, Vol. 29, No. 5, p. 1473–1474 (1997).