Named in honor of Jonathan C. Gradie, planetary scientist at the Hawaiian Institute of Geophysics, University of Hawaii. Gradie’s research has centered on the physics of minor planets, satellites and comets, particularly on their light-scattering properties. His wide-ranging contributions to minor-planet science include a detailed physical study of the Eos and Koronis {see planets  (221) and  (158)} families and development of a number of aspects of minor-planet taxonomy. (M 11749) _ _.