FY 2012 Space Grant Intern, M. Patrick Martin, has developed a web facility to allow both professional and amateur astronomers to digitally enhance images of cometary comae. Patrick, a University of Arizona junior majoring in mathematics, computer science, linguistics and Spanish, worked with Planetary Science Institute Senior Scientist Nalin H. Samarasinha and University of Arizona Senior Staff Scientist Stephen M. Larson to implement this web-interface.

The Planetary Science Institute is hosting this facility. Visit the Cometary Coma Image Enhancement Facility page for more information. This will enable one to digitally enhance coma images of comets using five different image enhancement techniques.

During the testing phase of this project, a number of amateur astronomers have used this facility to enhance their images of comet ISON, a comet that evoked great interest not only among the astronomers but also among the public. The NASA Planetary Atmospheres Program and the Planetary Science Institute provided additional support for this work.