Named in honor of the Slovak astronomer Milan Antal {1935–1999}, on the staff of the observatories at Skalnaté Pleso {see planet
(2619)} and Hurbanovo for over 38 years. Known as an excellent observer of comets and minor planets, Antal determined accurate photographic astrometric positions by the thousand. In 1973 he observed two outbursts of comet 41P/Tuttle-Giacobini-Kresák. Six of his minor planet discoveries have been numbered so far. He is a founder member and vice president of the General Štefánik Society, founded in 1989 in honor of Milan Rastislav Štefánik (1880–1919), some time assistant at the Meudon Observatory. (M 26767) _ _.