UMSL Team Observes Halley-Type Comet 161P From St. Louis
Students used remote access to the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility to analyze the comet's chemical composition this October.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Space
Live Poll
Should university students prioritize hands-on research participation to prepare for their future careers?
University of Missouri-St. Louis researchers and local high school students recently conducted remote observations of Halley-type comet 161P. Using the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii, the team analyzed the comet's chemical composition.
Why it matters
Analyzing the composition of cometary comas helps scientists map the chemical building blocks of the early solar system. This research contributes to ongoing efforts to categorize comets by their orbital origins.
The team utilized high-resolution spectroscopy across a 1 to 5 micron range to identify molecular emission lines. Comet 161P, which has a 21-year orbital period, serves as a point of comparison for other Halley-type comets.
The players
University of Missouri-St. Louis
A research university hosting the Benton Hall laboratory and academic programs in physics and astronomy.
NASA Infrared Telescope Facility
A NASA-funded telescope facility located at Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii optimized for infrared observations.
The details
Researchers performed the study remotely from a laboratory in 517 Benton Hall in St. Louis. They operated the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility in Hawaii to capture high-resolution spectroscopy—a method of analyzing light to identify chemical elements. By focusing on the coma—the fuzzy envelope of gas and dust surrounding the nucleus—the team can detect specific molecular signatures.
Timeline
Oct. 15-17, 2026: Team observed comet 161P.
11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.: Nightly observation window.
The Tech Race
This project builds on established protocols at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility to distinguish between Halley-type and Jupiter-family comets. Researchers are currently benchmarking these 161P findings against broader orbital datasets.
This project provided hands-on research experience for eight St. Louis-area students using remote-access telescope hardware. Future data from the study will be integrated into wider solar system formation research available to the academic community.
The takeaway
The team plans to compare these findings against data on Jupiter-family and Oort Cloud comets to refine understanding of comet evolution. Interested observers can track future spectral analysis updates from the university research group.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest research in Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by STLtoday.
Live Poll
Should university students prioritize hands-on research participation to prepare for their future careers?
