Thomas Digges Proposes Infinite Copernican Universe

In 1576, English mathematician Thomas Digges published "A Perfit Description of the Caelestiall Orbes" in London as an appendix to his father's almanac. Digges translated the Copernican heliocentric model into English and modified it by removing the outer sphere of fixed stars. He proposed that stars extended infinitely into space at varying distances, transforming Copernicus's finite universe into an infinite one. His diagram showed stars scattered beyond traditional boundaries, describing the region as containing "perpetual shining glorious lights innumerable." This concept challenged existing astronomical and theological views of the cosmos.