Professor Peter McGregor has been remembered for his pivotal role in rebuilding the Mount Stromlo Observatory following the 2003 bushfires, after losing his battle with cancer.
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Professor McGregor will be farewelled at a funeral on Wednesday after his death from throat cancer last Thursday, aged 59.
As well as working on his own on research at the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics focusing on star formation and black holes, Professor McGregor was best known for building instruments for astronomical telescopes all over the world, the school's director Professor Matthew Colless said.
He and his team had been working on a new instrument for the 25-metre Giant Magellan telescope and in the past he had built two instruments for the eight-metre Gemini telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.
"We will be using his instruments for many years to come and his students and others will carry on his research after him, we're just very sorry he isn't there to do it himself," Professor Colless said.
"I've been incredibly touched by the number of people who have got in contact with me since his death saying how much he'd been helpful to them in their careers and lives.
"He certainly demanded a very high standard of himself and everyone around him but it's obvious that beneath that he was very kind and helpful and supportive to a large number of colleagues and it's very clear he is deeply missed."
After receiving his PhD at Mount Stromlo in 1981, Professor McGregor remained at the observatory for most of his career.
Following the observatory's destruction in the 2003 bushfires, Professor McGregor and the research school's then-director Penny Sackett had the vision for building a new advanced instrumentation and technology centre with money from the insurance company and federal government, Professor Colless said.
"Because it was so much Peter's vision and he'd built some of the best instruments there after the hall was constructed we decided that the least we could do was to name it in his honour," he said.
Professor McGregor is survived by his wife Siew-Gim and son Sam McGregor.
His funeral will be held at 9am on Wednesday in the chapel of Norwood Park Crematorium, Mitchell.
In lieu of flowers, his family have asked for donations to the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, which Professor Colless said would go towards a scholarship in Professor McGregor's name.
Professor Colless said there was also discussion about the Astronomical Society of Australia naming a prize in Professor McGregor's honour for best contribution to instrumentation.
