Antony Hewish’s speech at the Nobel Banquet, December 10, 1974

Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The world of man lies midway in scale between the inner space of atoms and particles, and the outer space of stars and galaxies. The exploration of both these regions stretches our imagination to its limits.

In deciding to honour the field of Astrophysics the Nobel Foundation, and the Royal Academy of Sciences, have given great encouragement and delight to all astronomers who share with us this proud moment. Sir Martin Ryle and I know this well from the countless messages that we have received from all over the world.

There is, I think, some special benefit for mankind in the realm of astrophysics. It is impossible to witness the interplay of galaxies without a sense of wonder, and looking back at Earth we see it in its true perspective, a planet of great beauty, an undivided sphere. Let us try and keep this image always in our view.