On-sky commissioning of MAROON-X: A new precision radial velocity spectrograph for Gemini North

TL;DR

MAROON-X is a newly commissioned high-precision radial velocity spectrograph at Gemini North, capable of detecting exoplanets around late K and M dwarfs with sub-50 cm/s accuracy, expanding northern hemisphere capabilities.

Contribution

This paper presents the first on-sky commissioning results of MAROON-X, the only optical EPRV spectrograph on an 8m-class telescope in the northern hemisphere.

Findings

Achieved sub-50 cm/s radial velocity precision.

Demonstrated successful on-sky commissioning in December 2019.

Provided early science results confirming instrument performance.

Abstract

MAROON-X is a fiber-fed, red-optical, high precision radial velocity spectrograph recently commissioned at the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawai'i. With a resolving power of 85,000 and a wavelength coverage of 500-920 nm, it delivers radial velocity measurements for late K and M dwarfs with sub-50 cm s$^{-1}$ precision. MAROON-X is currently the only optical EPRV spectrograph on a 8m-class telescope in the northern hemisphere and the only EPRV instrument on a large telescope with full access by the entire US community. We report here on the results of the commissioning campaign in December 2019 and early science results.