Named in honor of Harry van der Laan, former professor of astronomy at Leiden Observatory and well-known for his work on radio radiation of gaseous nebulae. He is especially honored for his activity in securing the Dutch participation in the Observatorio de Roque de los Muchachos at La Palma, Canary Islands. Van der Laan is since 1987 director of the European Southern Observatory. (M 10043) _ _.