Richard A. ProctorRichard Anthony Proctor (March 23, 1837 – September 12, 1888) was a British astronomer. He is primarily known for creating one of the first maps of Mars in 1867, based on 27 sketches by English observer William Rutter Dawes. His map was eventually supassed by those of Giovanni Schiaparelli and Eugène Antoniadi, and his nomenclature was discarded (his "Kaiser Sea" became Syrtis Major Planum, for example). He attempted to establish Mars' sidereal day using historical drawings of Mars dating back to 1666. In 1873, his final estimate was 24h 37m 22.713s, which is quite close to the present value of 24h 37m 22.663s. Proctor's crater on Mars bears his name. Richard Proctor's father died in 1850, and his mother raised him. He was admitted to King's College London and afterwards received a scholarship at St John's College, Cambridge. He graduated as the 23rd wrangler in 1860. Proctor then read for the bar, but instead pursued astronomy and writing, publishing an article on the Colors of Double Stars in the Cornhill Magazine in 1865. Saturn and its System, his first book, was published at his own expense the same year. Read More Read Less