1711-1786

English philosopher credited with originating the disk-shaped galaxy model. He constructed two geometric models producing the Milky Way's appearance. In one, Earth lies in a thin, spherical-shell of stars about a divine center with the universe full of such spheres. In the other, the universe is a series of concentric rings around the divine center. Wright later rejected both models, instead conceiving of man as living inside a cavity with the Milky Way a chain of burning mountains.