Willebrord Snellius

Willebrord Snellius
Willebrord Snel van Royen (1580–1626)
Born13 June 1580
Died30 October 1626(1626-10-30) (aged 46)
NationalityDutch
Alma materUniversity of Leiden
Known forSnell's law
Snellius' triangulation
Snellius–Pothenot problem
Scientific career
FieldsAstronomy and mathematics
InstitutionsUniversity of Leiden
Academic advisorsLudolph van Ceulen
Rudolph Snellius
Notable studentsJacobus Golius

Willebrord Snellius (born Willebrord Snel van Royen) (13 June 1580  30 October 1626) was a Dutch astronomer and mathematician, commonly known as Snell. His name is usually associated with the law of refraction of light known as Snell's law.

The lunar crater Snellius is named after Willebrord Snellius. The Royal Netherlands Navy has named three survey ships after Snellius, including a currently-serving vessel.