Named in memory of Johann Gottfried Galle (1812–1910), famous German astronomer who in 1846 discovered the planet Neptune, the existence of which had been theoretically demonstrated by J. C. Adams and U. J. Leverrier {see planets  (1996) and  (1997), respectively}. Galle studied mathematics and natural sciences in Berlin and was appointed staff astronomer at the Berlin Observatory by its director J. F. Encke. He then went to the University of Breslau and in 1851 became professor of astronomy and director of the Breslau Observatory. The discoverer of three comets within only three months in 1839-40, Galle was also known for his catalogues of cometary orbits that culminated with the definitive edition of 1894. In 1872, more than three decades before its realization, Galle proposed the use of minor planet observations for the determination of the solar parallax. He was also engaged in meteorological problems. (M 18304) _ _.