Martin Ryle was an English radio astronomer who developed the technique of aperture synthesis, a method of combining the signals recorded by several smaller radio telescopes, separated by real physical distance and later recombined mathematically, to produce images with the sharpness and detail that would otherwise require a single radio dish far too large to practically build. Working at Cambridge University, where he became the first Professor of Radio Astronomy and later the twelfth Astronomer Royal, Ryle used this technique to compile increasingly precise catalogues and positions of faint radio sources across the sky, work that let astronomers pin down the true nature of many previously mysterious radio-emitting objects. Ryle shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics with fellow Cambridge radio astronomer Antony Hewish, an award the Nobel committee described as the first ever given in recognition of astronomical research, citing Ryle specifically for his observations and inventions, particularly of the aperture synthesis technique. In his later years Ryle increasingly turned his public attention away from pure astronomy and toward social and political concerns, becoming an outspoken advocate for nuclear disarmament and for greater investment in renewable energy research.
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Birth YearSourced to the subject's own account Birth DateSourced to the subject's own account Death DateSourced to the subject's own account Death YearSourced to the subject's own account FieldSourced to the subject's own account Death PlaceSourced to the subject's own account NationalitySourced to the subject's own account Notable WorkSourced to the subject's own accountAperture synthesis technique for radio astronomy 1 BirthplaceSourced to the subject's own account Connections
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Shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in Physics for pioneering work in radio astrophysics, the first Nobel Prize awarded for astronomical research.
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1. Martin Ryle (Wikipedia)
Wikipedialead paragraph, dates parenthetical
Sir Martin Ryle (27 September 1918-14 October 1984) was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems (see e.g. aperture synthesis) and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.
lead paragraph, dates parenthetical (year)
Sir Martin Ryle (27 September 1918-14 October 1984) was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems (see e.g. aperture synthesis) and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.
Early life section, first sentence
Martin Ryle was born in Brighton, England, the son of Professor John Alfred Ryle and Miriam (née Scully) Ryle.
Later life section, death sentence
Ryle died on 14 October 1984, in Cambridge.
Later life section, death year figure
Ryle died on 14 October 1984, in Cambridge.
Later life section, death place clause
Ryle died on 14 October 1984, in Cambridge.
lead paragraph, first sentence
Sir Martin Ryle (27 September 1918-14 October 1984) was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems (see e.g. aperture synthesis) and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.
lead paragraph, first sentence (field clause)
Sir Martin Ryle (27 September 1918-14 October 1984) was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems (see e.g. aperture synthesis) and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.
lead paragraph, first sentence (achievement clause)
Sir Martin Ryle (27 September 1918-14 October 1984) was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems (see e.g. aperture synthesis) and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources.
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