It was discovered on 30 September 1975, by American astronomer Schelte Bus at the Palomar Observatory.
[1] San Jose is a non-family asteroid from the main belt's background population.
[2] The body's observation arc begins with a precovery taken at Palomar in April 1954.
[2] This minor planet was named for the city of San Jose, California, United States, for its long support of nearby Lick Observatory particularly in efforts to reduce light pollution.
[5] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 14 December 1997 (M.P.C.