Robert S. (Robert Shirley) Richardson

Born in Kokomo, Indiana, in 1902, Robert Shirley Richardson was an American astronomer and writer. Reliable biographical sources identify him as an astronomer associated with Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories, and they also note that he published fiction under the pseudonym Philip Latham.

Richardson built a reputation for explaining astronomy to general readers in an accessible way, while his fiction often carried the same scientific grounding. That combination made him especially appealing to readers who enjoy science fiction that feels informed by real space science rather than pure fantasy.

He died in 1981. Although he is not as widely remembered as some later science-fiction writers, his career stands out for the unusually direct connection between professional astronomy and imaginative storytelling.