Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt

Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt wearing the insignias of the Order of the White Eagle.
Portrait by Józef Oleszkiewicz

Marcin Odlanicki Poczobutt (Lithuanian: Martynas Počobutas; 30 October 1728 near Grodno – 7 February 1810 in Daugavpils) was a Polish–Lithuanian Jesuit, astronomer and mathematician. He was professor of Vilnius University for over 50 years, serving as its rector from 1780 to 1799. The crater Poczobutt on the Moon is named after him, as is the main-belt asteroid 191775 Poczobut.[1] Poczobutt is also the author of the University's motto, Hinc itur ad astra (from here one rises to the stars).[2]

  1. ^ "New Names of Minor Planets" (PDF). WGSBN Bulletin. 4 (6): 8. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  2. ^ "„Hinc itur ad astra": iš kur atsirado Vilniaus universiteto šūkis?". naujienos.vu.lt. Retrieved 5 August 2024.