\contentsline {chapter}{Preface}{i}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {1}The Origin and Purpose of FITS}{1}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.1}The Need for FITS}{1}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.2}What FITS Is}{2}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {1.3}The Philosophy of FITS}{4}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {2} History}{7}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.1}The First Agreement}{7}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.2}Random Groups}{8}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.3}Generalized Extensions}{9}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.4}ASCII Tables}{11}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.5}Floating Point}{12}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.6}Physical Blocking}{12}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.7}Image Extension}{13}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.8}Binary Tables}{13}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {2.9}How FITS Evolves}{15}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {3}FITS Fundamentals}{17}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.1}Basic FITS}{17}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.1.1}Primary Header}{18}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.1.1}Required Keywords}{21}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.1.2}Reserved Keywords}{23}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.1.3}Some Hints on Keyword Usage}{28}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.1.4}Units}{29}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.1.2}Primary Data Array}{29}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.2.1}Scaled Integers}{30}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.2.2}Undefined Integers}{31}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.1.2.3}IEEE Floating Point Data}{31}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.2}Random Groups}{33}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.2.1}Header}{34}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.2.1.1}Required Keywords}{34}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {3.2.1.2}Random Parameter Reserved Keywords}{36}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.2.2}Data Records}{37}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.3}Extensions}{37}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.3.1}Required Keywords for an Extension Header}{40}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.3.2}Reserved Keywords for Extension Headers}{41}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.3.3}Creating New Extensions}{43}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.4}ASCII Table Extension}{44}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.4.1}Required Keywords for ASCII Table Extension}{44}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.4.2}Reserved Keywords for ASCII Table Extension}{46}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.4.3}Data Records in an ASCII Table Extension}{47}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.5}The Image Extension}{47}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5.1}Header}{48}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.5.2}Data Records}{49}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.6}Binary Tables}{49}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.6.1}Required Keywords for Binary Table Extension Headers}{50}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.6.2}Reserved Keywords for Binary Table Extension Header}{53}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {3.6.3}Binary Table Extension Data Records}{55}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.7}Reading FITS Format}{57}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {3.8}FITS Files and Physical Media}{58}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {4}World Coordinate Systems}{61}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.1}Indexes and Physical Coordinates}{63}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.2}Proposed Conventions}{64}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.2.1}Improved Axis Descriptions}{64}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {4.2.2}Sky Images}{65}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.2.2.1}Pixel Regularization}{65}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.2.2.2}Transforming to Projected Sky Coordinate}{66}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.2.2.3}From Pixel to Physical Values}{68}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.2.2.4}Deprojection}{68}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {4.2.2.5}Conversion to Standard Celestial Coordinates}{70}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.3}Coordinate Keywords}{71}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {4.4}Current Status}{72}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {5}Advanced FITS}{75}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.1}Registered Extension Type Names}{75}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.2}Conventions for Binary Tables}{77}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.2.1}Variable Length Arrays}{77}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.2.2}Arrays of Strings}{80}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.2.3}Multidimensional Arrays in Binary Tables}{82}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.2.3.1}{\tt TDIM}$n$ Keyword}{82}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.2.3.2}Green Bank Convention}{83}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.2.4}Some Applications of Binary Tables}{84}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.2.4.1}Replacing Random Groups}{84}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.2.4.2}Multiple Arrays in One HDU}{85}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.3}Hierarchical Grouping Proposal}{85}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.4}STScI Inheritance Convention}{90}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.5}Checksum Proposal}{90}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.6}Other Proposed Conventions}{94}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.6.1}HEASARC}{94}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.6.1.1}Keywords and column names}{95}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.6.1.2}Proposed {\tt CREATOR} Keyword}{95}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.6.1.3}Proposed {\tt TSORTKEY} Convention}{96}
\contentsline {subsubsection}{\numberline {5.6.1.4}Maximum and Mininum Values in Table Columns}{98}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.6.2}World Coordinates in Tables}{99}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.6.3}Compression}{100}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.6.4}Other Reserved Type Names}{101}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {5.6.5}Developing New Conventions}{101}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.7}Keyword Domains}{102}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.8}Polarization}{104}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.9}Spectra}{105}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {5.10}High Energy Astrophysics Applications}{106}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {6}Resources}{107}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.1}The FITS Support Office}{107}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.1}On-line Information}{108}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.2}Documents}{109}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.3}Software and Test Files}{111}
\contentsline {subsection}{\numberline {6.1.4}Contact Information}{112}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.2}NRAO FITS Resources}{113}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.3}HEASARC}{115}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.4}Some Additional Software Resources}{117}
\contentsline {section}{\numberline {6.5}Other Network Resources}{118}
\addvspace {13pt}
\contentsline {chapter} {\Large \bf Appendixes}{}
\addvspace {5pt}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {A}Examples of FITS Headers}{121}
\contentsline {chapter}{\numberline {B}IEEE Formats}{155}