Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt (Lithuanian:Martynas Počobutas; 30 October 1728 nearGrodno – 7 February 1810 inDaugavpils) was aPolish–LithuanianJesuit, astronomer and mathematician. He was professor ofVilnius University for over 50 years, serving as itsrector from 1780 to 1799. Thecrater Poczobutt on theMoon is named after him, as is themain-belt asteroid191775 Poczobut.[1] Poczobutt is also the author of the University's motto,Hinc itur ad astra (from here one rises to the stars).[2]
Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt was born in the village ofSalomenka [be] near Grodno, withinLithuania proper. He studied atVilnius University (1745–1751) andCharles University in Prague (1754–1756). With brief interruptions he lectured at Vilnius University from 1753 to 1808.[3] Sponsored byMichał Fryderyk Czartoryski, he further studied in France, Italy, and Germany from 1762 to 1764. His stay at theMarseille Observatory underEsprit Pézenas inspired him to devote his career to astronomy.[4] He earneddoctorate of philosophy, gainedprofessorship, and became director of theVilnius Astronomical Observatory in 1764.[3] The observatory, established byThomas Zebrowski, was in its early stages of development and Poczobutt worked hard to obtain modern instruments. Despitesuppression of the Jesuits in 1773, the observatory gained royal favour from KingStanisław August Poniatowski—it was named royal observatory and Poczobutt became King's astronomer.[4] In 1780, Poczobutt was appointed as university rector by theCommission of National Education. He was tasked with reforming the university from a medieval school concentrated on humanities (philosophy and theology) to a modern scientific institution.[5] Under Poczobutt the university improved its science, medicine, and law departments.[6] As rector of the university he promoted the use of Latin and opposed any use of Polish or Lithuanian languages.[5]
He often travelled to London where he ordered astronomical equipment fromJesse Ramsden andJohn Dollond: a 4-foottransit telescope in 1765, 3.5-footachromatic telescope in 1770, 8-footmural quadrant in 1777, andmeridian circle in 1788.[4] Other purchases includedoctant,equatorial, twotheodolites, 10-footsextant.[7] The observatory was expanded by architectMarcin Knackfus in 1782–1788 to accommodate the new equipment. Poczobutt observed solar and lunar eclipses,comets andasteroids (includingCeres,Pallas,Juno), and calculated geographic coordinates of settlements in theGrand Duchy of Lithuania (includingVilnius andHrodna).[3] In addition, he made measurements ofMercury to compute its orbit; later this data was used byJérôme Lalande.[8] He described 16-star constellation, which he namedTaurus Poniatovii in honour of King Poniatowski (it is now obsolete and considered to be part of theOphiuchus).[9] His recorded observations amounted to 34 volumes.[8] In 1770 he became the first in Lithuania to systematically measure and record weather temperature (continuous records survive since 1777).[10] Poczobutt was elected afellow of the Royal Society in 1771 and a corresponding member of theFrench Academy of Sciences in 1778. He was made a member of theOrder of Saint Stanislaus in 1785 andOrder of the White Eagle in 1793.[5]
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