Rolf Hempel (b. 1956) is a German amateur astronomer who determined many high-quality positions of minor planets using a quite unconventional measuring device. His orbit determination software is still in use at the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut. The name was suggested by L. D. Schmadel.
Discovered on 26-3-1971 in Palomar by van Houten, C. J., van Houten-Groeneveld, I., Gehrels, T.