Working with FITS Format
FITS format, or the "Flexible Image Transport System", is a file format standardized and maintained by NASA that allows data to be transported between systems and interpreted according to exact specifications. A FITS format file consists of a data array (pixel data for an image) and a header containing metadata describing the pixel data and providing other documentation about the file. The FITS header and data follow a rigid structure defined in the standard. It is critical to note that FITS format is a file format, not an image format, as other types of data may be encoded in a FITS file.
Beyond opening, saving, and displaying FITS format images, Mira provides numerous tools for showing and modifying the FITS header metadata. Note that Mira does not save all of the FITS header metadata to TIFF and other graphics format files.
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Defines and describes the FITS format and Mira's implementation. |
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Defines the standard FITS keywords and additional keywords used by Mira. |
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Describes the general procedure for editing or modifying the FITS header information. |
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Displays the FITS header information and permits the information to be edited. The header is opened in an independent window, separate from the image window. |
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Displays the FITS header information and permits the information to be edited. The header is opened in a docking pane owned by the image window. |
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Defines the coordinate orientation used by FITS format images. |
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Displays the keywords used for describing a World Coordinate System attached to the image. |
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Describes how comments are stored in the FITS image header. |
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Changes keyword values in the FITS image header. |
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Describes how the image processing history is stored in the FITS image header. |
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Encodes calibration information into the image header. Mira uses this to prevent repeating the specific steps of calibration. |