Named in memory of Ernst Karl Abbe (1840–1905), director of the Jena Observatory from 1877 to 1900, known for his fundamental contributions to optics. These includes work on microscopes, the Abbe number and comparators - the last being very useful for the detection of minor planets. Abbe, a long-time collaborator and friend of Carl Zeiss {see planet  (851)}, secured considerable financial support for the University of Jena from the Zeiss foundation. The minor planet is being named on the occasion of the first meeting of the Astronomische Gesellschaft in the {eastern part of the} reunited Germany. (M 20839) _ _.