1934 LA. Discovered 1934 June 15 by K. Reinmuth at Heidelberg. Independently discovered 1934 June 15 by E. Delporte at Uccle.

Named for the great Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus (1473–1543), the founder of the heliocentric planetary system and of modern astronomy. (H 120)

Copernicus is also honored by a lunar and a Martian crater.