Pathani Samanta

Pathani Samanta better known as Mahamahopadhyaya Chandrasekhara Singha Harichandana Mahapatra Samanta,(13 December 1835 – 11 June 1904) was an Indian astronomer, mathematician and scholar who measured the distance from the Earth to the Sun with a bamboo pipe and traditional instruments. He was born in Purnimanta Pousha Krishna Ashtami, and died in Purnimanta Adhika Jyeshtha Krishna Trayodashi.

His research and observations were compiled into a book called Siddhanta Darpana, which was written in both Sanskrit and the Odia script. He earned the Mahamahopadhyaya Award in 1893, for his usage of traditional instruments for astronomical observations.