Named in honor of Minoru Honda {1917–1990} for his outstanding achievement in the discovery of 12 comets and 12 novae. The comet discoveries were made visually over the period 1940 to 1968, the latter year adding three discoveries. Honda’s emphasis then turned to photographic nova searching, with his first two discoveries coming in 1970. The first, FH Ser, displayed a pronounced minimum during its fade, and multifrequency observations made of this object make it a benchmark in nova studies. Although he was chronologically not the first discoverer of the bright nova V1500 Cyg in 1975, it was his observation that was first disseminated to the astronomical community. These discoveries acted as a major influence in the development of the discoverer’s astronomical interests. (M 14633) _ _.