1981 JS. Discovered 1981 May 5 by E. Bowell at Anderson Mesa.

Named in memory of John Frederick Heard (1907–1976), professor of astronomy at the University of Toronto and fourth director of the David Dunlap Observatory. An outstanding and meticulous spectroscopist, he specialized in spectroscopic binaries and stellar radial-velocity standards. In addition, he was a dedicated teacher who helped train many Canadian astronomers. (M 9770)

Citation prepared by H. Guetter.

Obituary published in J.R. Astron. Soc. Canada, Vol. 71, p. 1–8 (1977).