Martin Ryle
Born: 27-Sep-1918
Birthplace: Brighton, Sussex, England
Died: 14-Oct-1984
Location of death: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Cause of death: unspecified
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: White
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Astronomer
Nationality: England
Executive summary: Radio astronomer
Ryle worked on radar and radio systems for the RAF during World War II, at the Telecommunications Research Establishment. After the war, he worked at Cambridge on stellar catalogues, helping to produce the Third Cambridge Catalogue (1959) -- this was the first catalogue to include a quasar. Most importantly, he invented a method, aperture synthesis, to measure weak radio sources using multiple radio telescopes whose position can be changed in relationship to each other. This had the effect of simulating a much larger telescope. For this he was the first astronomer awarded the Nobel Prize, in 1974. He also served as Astronomer Royal (1972�82), succeeding Sir Richard Woolley.
Father: John A. Ryle (physician)
Wife: Rowena Palmer (m. 1947, two daughters, one son)
Daughter: Alison
Daughter: Claire
Son: John
High School: Bradfield College
University: Physics, Oxford University (1939)
Scholar: Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge University
Teacher: Lecturer, Cambridge University (1948-59)
Professor: Trinity College, Cambridge University (1959-)
Astronomer Royal 1972-82
Nobel Prize for Physics 1974 (with Antony Hewish)
Royal Astronomical Society Gold Medal 1964 (with Maurice Ewing)
Bruce Medal 1974
Royal Medal 1973
Knighthood 1966
Henry Draper Medal 1965
Hughes Medal 1954
Royal Society 1952
American Academy of Arts and Sciences 1970
Russian Academy of Sciences 1971
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