Discovered 1919 July 4 by M. F. Wolf at Heidelberg.

Named in honor of the famous Austrian astronomer Johann Palisa (1848–1925), observer at the Marine Observatory in Pola and vice-director of the Vienna Observatory. Palisa discovered more than 120 minor planets and the comet 1879 V. In collaboration with M. F. Wolf he produced the famous Wolf-Palisa star charts and he initiated the Carte du Ciel endeavor. (H88)

Palisa is also honored by a lunar crater and by the planets (902), (975), and (996). See also the remarks to planet (776).