Drs. Anita Cochran and Edwin Barker will use this grant to perform a statistical analysis on the database of the McDonald Observatory Faint Comet Survey. The Survey contains spectroscopic observations of over 80 comets. By analyzing this large and consistent database of observations, Drs. Cochran and Barker hope to determine which physical and chemical properties are important to the evolution of comets. Principal goals include searching for comet to comet differences and classifying different types of comets. The study of comets is critical to our understanding of the formation of the Solar System since comets represent the least altered bodies left over from the early solar nebula. The degree of homogeneity of the sample of comets lends an important constraint to models of the formation of the Solar System. This research project will explore a unique, existing database in order to define better the properties of comets as individuals and as a group.
