Named in memory of Hisashi Terao (1855–1923), who was the first Japanese professor of astronomy (1884–1919) at Tokyo Imperial University, the first director (1888–1919) of the Tokyo Astronomical Observatory and the first president of the Astronomical Society of Japan. Soon after he finished the course of physics at the newly-established Tokyo University he was sent to Paris to study celestial mechanics under Tisserand {see planet  (3663)}, his main interest being in transits of Venus. He was also one of the founders of Tokyo Science University and later served as its president. (M 25653) _ _.