It was discovered by American astronomer Timothy Spahr at the U.S. Catalina Station, Arizona, on 5 August 1994.
[1] In 2011, a photometric lightcurve analysis by astronomer Brian Skiff gave a rotation period of 2.539 hours with a relatively low brightness amplitude of 0.10 magnitude, indicative of a nearly spheroidal shape (U=3-).
[5] The Collaborative Asteroid Lightcurve Link agrees with WISE's observations and assumes a slightly higher albedo of 0.23 and calculates a diameter of 5.5 kilometers.
[3] This minor planet is named after Bill Watterson (born 1958), cartoonist of the daily comic strip Calvin and Hobbes.
Syndicated from 1985 to 1995, this strip is fondly remembered and treasured by the discoverer, and helped him stay awake and sane on long observing nights and during the trials and tribulations of graduate school.