Named in honor of James F. Bell III (1965– ), planetary scientist at Cornell University. Bell is noted for his interpretation of reflectance spectra of solar-system objects. He has made important contributions to the identification of minerals on the surface of Mars and has played a key role in NEAR’s investigation of (253) Mathilde and (433) Eros. (M 35490) _ _.
Discovered on 28-11-1983 in Anderson Mesa by Bowell, E.