FIT Files

These are some examples of FIT files. FIT stands for "Flexible Image Transport" standard, and is commonly used by NASA to store and transfer astronomical and weather images.

FIT File Characteristics:

• binary
• Color
• 2D
• No compression
• 1 image

Licensing:

The computer code and data files described and made available on this web page are distributed under the GNU LGPL license.

Reference:

1. NASA, Definition of the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS),
   Standard NOST 100-2.0,
   NASA/Science Office of Standards and Technology, 1999.
2. fits.pdf, the definition of the Flexible Image Transport System (FITS).

Routines to read a FIT file include:

• MATLAB, can read a FIT file using the fitsread routine.
• FITS_IO, a library of utility routines for manipulating FIT files.

Routines to write a FIT file:

• MATHEMATICA includes an Export[filename,object] command that can save a graphics object as an FIT file.

Programs to view a FIT file include:

• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can view a FIT file.
• The ImageVision program imgview can display an FIT file.
• MATLAB, can display an FIT file, once it is read in, using the command image(A).
• xv can display an FIT file.

Programs to convert a FIT file to another format:

• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a FIT file to BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM format.
• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can read a FIT file and save it as a BMP, GIF, JPG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPM, PS, RGB or TIF file.
• xv can read a FIT file and save it as a BMP, GIF, JPG, PBM, PGM, PPM, RGB or TIF file.

Programs to convert another format to FIT format:

• The ImageMagick, program convert can convert a BMP, CGM, EPS, FIG, GIF, JPG, PBM, PDF, PGM, PNG, PNM, PPM, PS, RGB, TIF, XBM or XPM file to FIT format.
• GIMP, the GNU Image Manipulation Program, can read a BMP, GIF, JPG, PBM, PGM, PNG, PPM, PS, RGB or TIF file and save it as a FIT file.
• xv can read a variety of file formats, and save them as a FIT file.

Sample FIT Files:

• asciitab.fit;
• datacube.fit;
• good.fit;
• ngc1316o.fit;
• ngc1316r.fit;
• rate.fit;

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