Astronomical Sciences Core Research (Astro-Core)
Astronomical Sciences Core Research (Astro-Core) supports individual researchers and collaborative groups studying astronomy and astrophysics to advance foundational knowledge across the field.
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Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: November 16, 2026 (full proposal target date) | Anytime (proposals accepted)
Funding Amounts: $100 million anticipated across MPS Astro programs; approximately 130 Astro-Core awards estimated
Summary: Astro-Core funds foundational astronomy and astrophysics research by individual investigators and collaborative groups.
Key Information: Proposals must demonstrate their astronomical context or may be returned without review.
Description
Astronomical Sciences Core Research (Astro-Core) is part of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. Formerly called Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants, it supports observational, theoretical, computational, AI and machine-learning, laboratory, and archival-data studies. Projects may cross disciplines, combine techniques, or develop tools and methods that enable astronomical research. Its review areas are extragalactic astronomy and cosmology; galactic astronomy; stellar astronomy and astrophysics; and planetary, exoplanetary and solar astronomy.
The program encourages work that helps researchers use the NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory and increases the scientific impact of its Legacy Survey of Space and Time. It also accepts solar astronomy, particularly work using NSF ground-based solar observatories, and studies of the Sun’s effects across the broader solar system.
