Named in honor of Naoto Sato (1953– ), active amateur astronomer and junior high school science teacher. His outstanding educational achievement has been creating life-long interest in space and the universe among his students and followers. At his own Chichibu Astronomical Observatory, he uses a CCD camera to observe minor planets. He made a prediscovery observation of comet C/1989 Y2 (McKenzie-Russell). (M 33786) _ _.