MAROON-X (M-dwarf Advanced Radial velocity Observer Of Neighboring eXoplanets) is an instrument on the Gemini-North telescope which the goal of identifying habitable planets around M-dwarf stars using radial velocities. More information can be found on the GEMINI website or Dr. Jacob Bean’s website.
Data reduction is an essential part in astrophysics research as it takes difficult to understand and noisy data and processes it into a final clean and understandable data product. MAROON-X is a spectrograph, or a specialized instrument that takes in the light from the stars and splits it up into many different wavelengths.
Spectrograph details
An easy way to picture what a spectrograph does is the classic prism where white light goes in one side and then out the other in a rainbow. Each color is now physically separated and we can then place multiple detectors so that each one catches a different type of light. The spectrograph is the instrument that contains all of this: an opening for light, a method to split the light, and then detectors to see how much of each type of light is present.
Echelle spectrograph details
MAROON-X makes use of an echelle spectrograph
With MAROON-X we have been able to provide extremely precise radial velocity measurements that allow for the detection and characterization of many exoplanets. My work included both increasing the speed of the data-reduction pipeline as well as greatly reducing the required time each month for reduction by automating much of the process.
