October 30: Marcin Poczobutt

Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt

October 30, 1728 – February 7, 1810

Marcin Poczobutt was a Polish-Lithuanian astronomer, jesuit and mathematician.

He became mathematics professor and rector of the Vilnius University where he organized the construction of the university's observatory and the purchase of the equipment. He also made observations of solar and lunar eclipses, comets and asteroids. In addition, he made measurements of Mercury to compute an orbit, and also determined the geographic coordinates of locations in Lithuania, including Vilnius.

He was granted the title of the King's Astronomer and became a member of the British Royal Academy of Science.

The Lunar crater Poczobutt is named in his honor.