ESO DOI Service

• Lo Curto, Gaspare [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Pepe, Francesco [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Fleury, Michel [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Hughes, Ian [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Schnell, Robin [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Wimmer, Veronika [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Fuerte Rodriguez, Pablo Alberto [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Silber, Armin [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Saviane, Ivo [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Lovis, Christophe [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Sosnowska, Danuta [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Dumusque, Xavier [Geneva Observatory, Switzerland]
• Jakob, Gerd [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]
• Accardo, Matteo [European Southern Observatory (ESO)]

The High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS), operational since October 2003, has been pioneering exoplanetary research, with over 1300 publications and more than 200 exoplanet detections, and is still in high demand. Its continued success has been achieved thanks to its extraordinary stability, the continuous improvement of its data reduction pipeline and the integration of innovative technologies whenever they became available. Here we report on the recent maintenance mission to enhance the detector’s cryostat reliability and thermal stability. Additionally we tested a novel cryogenic concept on HARPS, and the positive outcome of the test opens up new possibilities.