Robert Shirley Richardson (April 22, 1902 – November 12, 1981) was an American astronomer, born in Kokomo, Indiana. He also published science fiction using the pseudonym Philip Latham. An astronomer at Mount Wilson and Palomar Observatories since 1931, he started writing for magazines in the early forties. His work won such wide respect that he now has a college textbook on astronomy to his credit. He has given technical assistance to a number of studios on pictures such as "Destination Moon", and he has written an article describing the work on the science fiction thriller "When Worlds Collide". [From the back flap of the dust jacket on "Five Against Venus"].

In his professional role he wrote about 10 books on astronomy. As Latham he wrote scripts for the early television series "Captain Video" as well as about 20 science-fiction stories.