This 2014 Planetary Data System NASA challenge asked competitors to help find anomalies and features of interest in the rings of Saturn that are not otherwise detectable by computer due to false-positives. The Cassini spacecraft took images during the orbit of Saturn. Competitors were tasked to create an algorithm to identify these features of interest in these images for scientific advancement (see the problem statement). Identifying these features may help better understand ring phenomena, ring structure, and potentially find new moons. Fifteen entrants competed for $15,000 and produced 255 submissions during the two-week contest. The winning solution uses an algorithm that automates the process of identifying propeller-shaped objects in Saturn’s rings. The new algorithm can identify more than 30% of the propellers with up to 80% accuracy. For more information, please visit here or here.
