Three Years of ET at KPNO: Summary of Results and Future Upgrades

We present a summary of radial velocity results from a re-reduction of three years' worth of data from the Exoplanet Tracker (ET) instrument, spanning 2005-2008. These data are reduced using an upgraded data reduction pipeline and compiled into a single archival database. The new pipeline includes a measure of the systemic radial velocity of the star improving our ability to link multiple data sets together. Included in these data are observations by external members using the ET instrument as a Visitor Instrument. Some examples are observations of white dwarf stars orbiting main sequence companions, planet searches around bright, metal-rich K dwarfs and follow-up of KELT transit candidates (these results are not presented in this poster, however). The previous ET instrument has been retired as of May 2008 and an upgraded version including a monolithic interferometer for improved throughput ( 40%) and long-term stability (elimination of moving parts) is currently being installed in the Fall of 2008. A "separate-beam” technique is being employed to reduce systematic errors prevalent in the older instrument. We will present initial RV results from observations using the upgraded instrument in Oct. and Nov. of 2008 and discuss prospects for its future use by the community and possible additional upgrades.