Astronomers at Queen's University, Belfast, have won more than £1 million for a series of research projects.
The funding includes £545,000 from the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council.
Staff in the astrophysics and planetary science research division will undertake studies in observational astrophysics, including searching for extra-solar planets and investigating comets. They will use the Superwasp camera being built at Queen's. Another Pparc grant will allow staff to use Superwasp at La Palma in the Canary Islands, as well as to travel to telescopes in other countries.