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Thomas Wright (astronomer)

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Thomas Wright (1711 - 1786) was an English astronomer, mathematician, instrument maker, architect and garden designer.

Wright is best known for his publication An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe (1750), in which he explains the appearance of the Milky Way as an optical effect due to our immersion in what locally approximates to a flat layer of stars. This idea was taken up and elaborated by Immanuel Kant.

Wright was born at Byers Green in County Durham. In 1730 he set up a school in Sunderland, where he taught mathematics and navigation. He later moved to London to work on a number of projects for his wealthy patrons, before retiring to County Durham and building a small observatory at Westerton.

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