Named in honor of Robert P. Kraft (1927– ), professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of California at Santa Cruz and Lick Observatory (1967–1993) and director of Lick Observatory (1981–1991). His research spans stellar spectroscopy, galactic structure, and chemical composition and evolution of stars in the galactic field and star clusters and the Magellanic Clouds. Kraft served as president (1974–1976) and vice president (1982–1988) of the American Astronomical Society and is currently president-elect of the International Astronomical Union. (M 26761) _ _.