GalSpec

Galaxy Spectrum Fitting

GalSpec is a Python package for fitting astronomical spectra, specifically designed for AGN and galaxy spectra with complex emission and absorption line features.

• Astropy Integration: All models inherit from Astropy's modeling framework
• Multiple Fitting Methods: LSQ, MCMC (emcee), and nested sampling (dynesty)
• Comprehensive Line Database: Built-in UV/optical emission lines
• Template Support: Fe II and stellar population templates
• Flexible Model Composition: Easily combine continuum, line, and template components

Full documentation is available at: https://jyshangguan.github.io/GalSpec/

The documentation includes:

• Installation instructions
• Quick start tutorial with real SDSS data
• API reference for all modules
• Examples for continuum fitting, emission lines, absorption lines, and advanced techniques

Install from source:

git clone https://github.com/jyshangguan/GalSpec.git
cd GalSpec
pip install -e .

GalSpec includes a Claude Code skill that allows you to use GalSpec directly within Claude Code for interactive spectral fitting assistance.

To install the skill:

# From the GalSpec repository root
./install_skill.sh

This will:

• Create a symlink from ~/.claude/skills/galspec to the skills/ directory
• Enable GalSpec commands in Claude Code

To use the skill in Claude Code:

/skills
Use GalSpec to fit the spectrum

To uninstall:

rm ~/.claude/skills/galspec

import numpy as np
from astropy.modeling.models import Linear1D
from galspec import Line_Gaussian
from astropy.modeling.fitting import LevMarLSQFitter

# Load your spectrum
wave = np.linspace(6400, 6700, 1000)
flux = np.random.randn(len(wave)) * 0.1  # Your data here

# Define model: continuum + Hα line
continuum = Linear1D(slope=0.0, intercept=1.0)
halpha = Line_Gaussian(amplitude=5.0, dv=0, sigma=200, wavec=6563)
model = continuum + halpha

# Fit
fitter = LevMarLSQFitter()
fitted_model = fitter(model, wave, flux)

print(f"Hα amplitude: {fitted_model[1].amplitude.value:.3f}")

The example/ directory contains detailed notebooks demonstrating:

• Continuum fitting with stellar templates
• Emission line fitting for AGN
• Absorption line and BAL fitting
• Physical parameter estimation

• Python ≥ 3.9
• numpy, scipy, matplotlib, astropy, pandas
• emcee, dynesty (for Bayesian fitting)

Note: When using ReadSpectrum class for extinction correction, SFD dust map data (4 FITS files, ~167MB total) will be automatically downloaded from kbarbary/sfddata on first use.

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details

• Documentation: https://jyshangguan.github.io/GalSpec/
• GitHub Repository: https://github.com/jyshangguan/GalSpec
• Issue Tracker: https://github.com/jyshangguan/GalSpec/issues