satellite | Sirius Satellite Radio | International Astronomical Union | Royal Astronomical Society | infrared | XM Satellite Radio | communications satellite | Satellite | satellite television | Natural satellite | Astronomical object | American Astronomical Society | Sternberg Astronomical Institute | Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration | Infrared spectroscopy | Infrared Processing and Analysis Center | Infrared | Communications satellite | Astro (satellite TV) | Sleeping Satellite | Satellite television | National Astronomical Observatory of Japan | International Telecommunications Satellite Organization | Astronomical Society of the Pacific | Six Finger Satellite | Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle | natural satellite | Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite | Defense Meteorological Satellite Program | British Astronomical Association |
Simon F. Green and John K. Davies discovered it in images from October 11, 1983 while searching Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) data for moving objects.
The comet was named after its discoverers – the Infrared Astronomical Satellite and two amateur astronomers, the highly respected George Alcock of the United Kingdom and Genichi Araki of Japan (both men were schoolteachers by profession, although Alcock was retired).