Named in honor of Joseph H. C. Liu (b. 1931), who played a leading role in establishing the Hong Kong Space Museum and who became its first chief curator. In 1982 he received the Chiro Astronomical Award in Japan, and in 1984 he became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, both for his promotion of popular astronomy in Hong Kong. Well known as an astrophotographer, he now lives in California. Name proposed by the discoverers following a suggestion by A. Fujii and T. Sato.