Named in honor of Harold Masursky {1923–1990}, planetary geologist at the Branch of Astrogeologic Studies of the U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff. He has been active in nearly every U.S. program of lunar and planetary exploration including Ranger, Surveyor, Lunar Orbiter, Apollo, Mariner 9, Viking, Pioneer Venus, and Voyager. He was involved in planning future space missions, including the Galileo mission (Jupiter orbiter probe) and the Venus Radar Mapper. (M 7158) _ _.