COMOUS is an acronym for 'Comet Observation and Outreach for University Students'. It is a program that was created to provide university students with the opportunity to observe comets and learn more about them. The program also provides outreach activities to help spread awareness of comets and their importance in our universe. The term 'HAIRY' is used to describe comets because of the long, fuzzy tails they have when they are close to the sun.