Distant Comets in the Early Solar System

The main goal of this project is to physically characterize the small outer solar system bodies. One of planetary science's highest priorities is an understanding of the dynamics and physical properties of the outer solar system small bodies. The measurement of the size distribution of these bodies will help constrain the early mass of the outer solar system as well as lead to an understanding of the collisional and accretional processes. We will increase the database of comet nucleus sizes making it statistically meaningful to compare with those of the Trans-Neptunian Objects.