Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants

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Description

The National Science Foundation's Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) program provides flexible funding to support a broad range of research in the astronomical sciences. The program funds individual investigators and collaborative teams for projects involving observational, theoretical, laboratory, and archival data studies in astronomy and astrophysics. Proposals may also focus on the development of tools or projects that enable or enhance astronomical research. Interdisciplinary and multi-technique proposals are welcome, provided the astronomical context is clearly demonstrated.

The AAG program is designed to foster scientific discovery, support the development of advanced technologies and instrumentation, and encourage participation from a diverse range of researchers and institutions. Special opportunities exist for undergraduate institutions and computational/data-enabled science proposals.

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Due Dates

• Annual Submission Window: October 1 – November 15 (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time)
• Next Deadline: November 15, 2025

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Funding Amount

• Estimated Total Funding: $50,000,000 per year (subject to availability of funds)
• Number of Awards: Approximately 100 projects funded annually
• Award Types: Standard or continuing grants
• Award Size/Duration: Varies by project; no explicit minimum or maximum

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Eligibility

• Eligible Applicants: U.S. institutions and organizations as defined in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG); unaffiliated individuals are not eligible.
• Eligible PIs: No restrictions or limits.
• Number of Proposals: No limits per organization, PI, or co-PI.
• Special Opportunities: Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) and Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E) proposals are accepted.

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Application Process

• Submission Platforms: Proposals must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. FastLane is not accepted.
• Letters of Intent/Preliminary Proposals: Not required.
• Full Proposal Requirements: Follow the NSF PAPPG or the NSF Grants.gov Application Guide.
• Collaborative Proposals: If submitting as separate submissions from multiple organizations, use Research.gov.
• Cost Sharing: Not required or allowed.
• Indirect Costs: No specific limitations.

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Additional Information

• Review Criteria: Proposals are evaluated on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, as defined by NSF.
• Reporting: Annual and final project reports are required via Research.gov.
• Special Note: Proposals that primarily exploit NASA data/resources should be submitted to NASA, or must justify the use of NASA data for NSF funding.
• Supplemental Funding: Requests for REU, RET, ROA, and other supplements can be included in new or existing awards; see solicitation for details.

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External Links

• Program Solicitation & Details (NSF 22-624)
• NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
• Research.gov Submission Portal
• Grants.gov Submission Portal
• NSF Division of Astronomical Sciences
• Facilitating Research at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions
• Computational and Data-Enabled Science and Engineering (CDS&E)

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Contact Information

For additional contacts (including other program officers by research area), see the full program solicitation.