Python Leap Second Management and Implementation of Precise Barycentric Correction (barycorrpy)

TL;DR

barycorrpy is a Python library that calculates highly precise barycentric corrections for radial velocity measurements, essential for exoplanet detection, and includes an improved leap second management routine for accurate time conversions.

Contribution

the paper introduces barycorrpy, a Python tool for sub-centimeter per second barycentric corrections, and an automated leap second management system to enhance time accuracy in astronomical observations.

Findings

Achieves sub-1 cm/s precision in barycentric corrections.

Integrates automated leap second updates for improved time conversion.

Supports next-generation Doppler spectrometers like HPF and NEID.

Abstract

We announce barycorrpy (BCPy) , a Python implementation to calculate precise barycentric corrections well below the 1 cm/s level, following the algorithm of Wright and Eastman (2014). This level of precision is required in the search for 1 Earth mass planets in the Habitable Zones of Sun-like stars by the Radial Velocity (RV) method, where the maximum semi-amplitude is about 9 cm/s. We have developed BCPy to be used in the pipeline for the next generation Doppler Spectrometers - Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) and NEID. In this work, we also develop an automated leap second management routine to improve upon the one available in Astropy. It checks for and downloads a new leap second file before converting from the UT time scale to TDB.