Named in honor of Walter Ernst Fricke {1915–1988}, Director of the Astronomisches Rechen-Institut in Heidelberg since 1955. The principal author of the FK4, he has also worked extensively on the system of astronomical constants. He served as president of IAU Commissions 4 (1958–1964) and 8 (1970–1973) and vice president of the IAU (1964–1967). (M 3930) _ _.