Armagh astronomer secures grant to investigate how first stars lit up universe

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium senior astronomer Jorick Vink (right) and Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, Rev John McDowell who also serves as the chairman of the Board of Governors at AOP (Liam McArdle/PA) -

An astronomer based at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium (AOP) has been awarded funding of two million euro to investigate how the first stars in the universe “switched on the lights” following the Big Bang.

Professor Jorick Vink said the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant has the potential to be “transformational” both for the observatory and for research worldwide.