The evolution of comet composition at large heliocentric distances

This project aims to study how the apparent composition of comets varies at large heliocentric distances, using optical spectroscopy to determine molecular production rates in cometary gases. Comets release more or less gas depending on their distance to the Sun, but the relative abundances of the different molecules observed in the gas varies as well. Therefore, characterising the trends that govern the apparent composition of comets is essential to understand the composition of their nuclei.
I am also working on an asteroid activity detection project, aiming to detect cometary activity in Main Belt Asteroids in the hope of finding new Main Belt comets.