SERVAL transforms stellar spectra into precise radial velocity measurements, enabling the detection of exoplanets through the subtle Doppler wobbles they create in their host stars' light.

Every time an exoplanet orbits its star, it creates a gravitational dance that causes the star to wobble ever so slightly toward and away from Earth. This motion imprints itself as tiny Doppler shifts in the star’s spectrum—shifts so minute they require extraordinary precision to detect. SERVAL (SpEctrum Radial Velocity AnaLyser) is the computational detective that reveals these whisper-quiet signals hidden within stellar light.

Built for professional astronomy workflows, SERVAL processes spectra from major planet-hunting instruments including HARPS, ESPRESSO, CARMENES, and others with surgical precision. The tool implements sophisticated algorithms for template matching, barycentric corrections, and systematic error modeling to extract radial velocities accurate to meters per second—the kind of precision needed to detect Earth-like worlds around Sun-like stars. Its Python-based architecture combines performance-critical C and Fortran components with flexible scripting capabilities, making it both powerful and adaptable to different observational strategies.

Currently deployed at observatories worldwide, SERVAL has contributed to numerous exoplanet discoveries and continues to push the boundaries of radial velocity precision. As next-generation spectrographs come online with even higher resolution and stability, tools like SERVAL will be essential for uncovering the smallest, most Earth-like planets in our cosmic neighborhood—potentially including worlds that could harbor life as we know it.

⭐ Stars: 40
💻 Language: Python
🔗 Repository: mzechmeister/serval