1918-1984

British radio astronomer who shared the 1974 Nobel Prize in physics with Antony Hewish for pioneering research in radio astrophysics. Ryle produced the first detailed map of radio-emitting objects in the sky. His extensive cataloguing of radio sources was made possible in part by his development of the aperture synthesis technique for improving telescope resolving power. Ryle worked on radar during World War II, was knighted in 1966, and was honored as the Astronomer Royal (1972-74).