Astronomy Funding Watch

CLOSING SOONinstitution-required IXPE General Observer - Cycle 4 (ROSES-2025 D.3E) - NASA SMD via NSPIRES (telescope-time)
observing time
the only X-ray polarimetry mission flying; Phase-1 proposal
deadline: 2026-09-17 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Pairs with NICER Cy9, same day and system.
deadline date 2026-09-17 confirmed via HEASARC D.3E; no time stated on source - date-only, do not assume
must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization (verified on HEASARC page)

CLOSING SOONinstitution-required NICER General Observer - Cycle 9 (ROSES-2025 D.3E) - NASA SMD via NSPIRES (telescope-time)
observing time
X-ray timing from the ISS; Phase-1 proposal
deadline: 2026-09-17T16:30:00-04:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Miss means a ~12-month wait.
deadline 17 September 2026, 4:30 PM Eastern / 1:30 PM Pacific - verified on the official NICER Cycle 9 call page
must be submitted by an authorized official of the proposing organization (verified on HEASARC page)

CLOSING SOONno institution needed ESO Period 118 Observing Proposals - European Southern Observatory (telescope-time)
observing time, May 2027 - Apr 2028
PI submits via ESO's p1 tool; landing page states no affiliation restriction - see full CfP118.pdf for policy details
deadline: 2026-09-22T12:00+02:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Verified verbatim on official ESO page: 'The deadline for Period 118 (1 May 2027 - 30 April 2028) is: 22 September 2026 (12:00 noon, Central European Summer Time)'.
22 September 2026, 12:00 noon CEST (deadline in 10 days)

CLOSING SOONinstitution-required JWST Cycle 6 Call for Proposals (GO/Survey/Archival) - STScI / NASA / ESA / CSA (telescope-time)
up to 7,700 observing hours
all categories of organizations, domestic and foreign
deadline: 2026-09-30T20:00:00-04:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: CORRECTED 2026-09-12: an earlier draft record claimed no Cycle 6 call existed; the call is live (released 2026-07-20).
deadline September 30, 2026, 8:00 PM US Eastern, APT portal closes promptly (verified on NASA page); TAC Feb 2027, observations from Jul 2027
open to all categories of organizations; US PI funding flows to institutions

CLOSING SOONentity rules unclear NOIRLab 2027A Time Allocation - NSF NOIRLab (KPNO, CTIO, Gemini, TSIP) (telescope-time)
observing time, Feb-Jul 2027 semester
NOIRLab open-skies model; PI submits via the time allocation system - confirm affiliation requirements in the 2027A call
deadline: 2026-09-30T23:59-07:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Verified verbatim: 'Call for proposals will be issued on 31 August 2026. Proposal deadline will be 30 September 2026 at 23:59 MST.' TAC meets Oct-Nov 2026; results ~15 Dec 2026.
30 September 2026, 23:59 MST; call issued 31 August 2026

OPENinstitution-required NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Grants (AAG) - U.S. NSF (MPS/AST) (grant)
varies
investigator-led US astronomy research, all areas
deadline: 2026-10-01/2026-11-16 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: The backbone program for US astronomy research.
window October 1 - November 16, 2026, due 5 PM submitter local time (verified); boilerplate text says Nov 15 annually but the current program page uses Monday Nov 16
due by 5pm submitting ORGANIZATION's local time (verified on NSF page)

OPENindividual 51 Pegasi b Postdoctoral Fellowship - Heising-Simons Foundation (fellowship)
up to $492,000 over 3 years
recent PhDs in planetary astronomy incl. exoplanets; host institution of choice
deadline: 2026-10-01T14:00:00-07:00 - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
deadline Oct 1, 2026, 2:00 PM Pacific - stated on official page
candidate applies directly (verified on foundation page)

OPENno institution needed XMM-Newton AO-26 Observing Proposals - European Space Agency (telescope-time)
observing time
individual PI; self-register with ESA-Cosmos and submit via XIPS - no institutional sign-off shown
deadline: 2026-10-09T12:00Z - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Verified verbatim: 'The deadline for XMM-Newton AO-26 proposal submission is Friday 9 October 2026, 12:00 UT.'
AO-26 released 19 August 2026; due 9 October 2026 12:00 UT

OPENentity rules unclear AAS Grants (6 programs) - American Astronomical Society (grant)
varies
mostly AAS members; includes Chretien International Research Grants (historically amateur-friendly)
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Hub page lists 6 programs incl. travel, dependent care, mini-grants. Per-program deadlines need individual verification.

OPENentity rules unclear RAS Grants for Studies - Royal Astronomical Society (grant)
varies
astronomy/geophysics studies; membership-linked; fellowships are institution-tied
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Fellowships (Lockyer, RAS RF) aimed at research workers; likely institution-adjacent.

BETWEEN WINDOWSno institution needed Gene Shoemaker NEO Grants - The Planetary Society (grant)
$585k awarded to 52 astronomers since 1997 (per-grant varies)
amateur AND professional asteroid observers, worldwide
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: 2025 winners announced; next RFP watch. Strong entity-less astronomy proof.

WATCHinstitution-required NASA ROSES-2026 omnibus (NNH26ZDA001N) - NASA SMD (grant)
dozens of program elements
APRA/ADAP/TCAN/FINESST and more get dates when it opens
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
note: Highest-value watch item in US space science.
posted on NSPIRES, status Pending with no dates or notices as of 2026-09-12
proposals submitted by authorized officials of proposing organizations; FINESST graduate awards flow via universities - individuals cannot submit directly

WATCHindividual NSF Astronomy & Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowships (AAPF) - U.S. NSF (MPS/AST) (fellowship)
up to 3 years, host of choice
recent doctoral scientists, any area of astronomy
no current dated window - checked 2026-09-12 by mira
no 2026 deadline posted on program page as of 2026-09-12; historically early November
fellow candidate submits; award taken to eligible host of choice