Famed Australian astronomer and BBC star Greg Quicke died earlier this week aged 62 after being diagnosed with cancer last year.
The Western Australian native was born in 1961 and, as a television presenter, presented a series of astronomy specials on the BBC and ABC called Stargazing Live alongside Professor Brian Cox.
He was affectionately known as ‘Space Gandalf’ thanks to his close resemblance to the Lord of the Rings character played by Sir Ian McKellen.
Quicke’s family said in a statement that it helped viewers better understand the cosmos.
“He brought the universe to all of us and translated it into a language we all understood,” they said.
Famed Australian astronomer and BBC star Greg Quicke (pictured) died earlier this week aged 62, after being diagnosed with cancer last year.
“Millions of people around the world watched him and he carried out his life’s work with inspiring spirit and freedom.”
English television presenter Bill Bailey interviewed him as part of his Wild West Australia series, where Quicke explained what he liked most about his job.
‘It brings me a lot of joy. “Everyone thinks it’s about stars, but it’s not… it’s about people,” Quicke told him.
He also hosted a ten-part miniseries for ABC called A Stargazers Guide to the Cosmos and wrote several books on the subject.
The Western Australian native was born in 1961 and, as a television presenter, presented a series of astronomy specials on the BBC and ABC called Stargazing Live.
BBC presenter Professor Brian Cox (right) paid a fitting tribute to Greg on social media.
In addition to his television work, he was also a popular tour guide and over the years had taken more than 100,000 people on a guided trip to see WA’s stunning star constellations.
Professor Brian Cox paid a well-deserved tribute to Quicke on social media: “I love what he wrote upon viewing the 2023 solar eclipse. “My body exhausted, my heart full, I crash into a profound eclipse fueled by communion with the other worlds.”
“I hope it’s there now,” Cox concluded.
Quicke is survived by a daughter, his parents and his sister.
