![]() ![]() FITS file, you will need an image-processing-program that is geared specifically toward working with astronomical images. For example, camera temperature, telescope right-ascension and declination pointing information at the time the image was read out, site latitude and longitude, gain settings, pixel size, and more. Furthermore, the FITS file can contain additional information, including the time and date of acquisition and all sorts of other information about the instrument. whatever data type best suits the instrument that is recording the data (and it doesn't have to be a camera either). ![]() Well, think of FITS files as "Super RAW." They can store image data in whatever format the camera or scientific instrument can produce, be it 8 bits, up to 64 bits, or even complex numbers (you know, those real and imaginary things you learned about in high school algebra)! The data can also be of various numerical types, integers, floats/reals, etc. If you shoot with a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you have undoubtedly been told to shoot RAW instead of JPG because of this format's greater bit depth and the resulting ability to manipulate the data therein. A FITS file can contain copious meta data about the image acquisition. FITS file standard document here on NASA's website. For the incurably curious, you can find the 50+ page. It is geared towards images, but the word images can be used pretty loosely here. ![]() Instead, it's an astronomical data archival format. FITS doesn't store photographs in a way they're used to. ![]() The disconnect in most peoples' minds is that. FITS is short for Flexible Image Transport System. One consequence of this is that images are often stored in the. Processing tools at hand are typically derived from or influenced by the tools real working astronomers use. These photographic tools are quite specialized in comparison to recording well-lit objects or events. Yes, we can use an ordinary DSLR camera, but we also have the option of using many other specialized cameras designed for deep-sky imaging. AVI video files, as well as typical daylight approaches to acquiring images.ĭeep-sky astrophotography is another matter. Even when such processing tools are geared specifically toward astrophotography, they lean heavily on the standard file formats such as. The Moon is about 800,000 times brighter than this nebula (composite image).įor bright objects, amateurs can often use standard, off-the-shelf photography programs to process images. Solar, lunar, and planetary astrophotography each has its own unique challenges it's just that low light and low signal isn't one of them. Anything that can take a picture of a duck can, with proper filtering, also take a photo of the Sun. Yes, the Sun counts as astrophotography, but the Sun is also just slightly brighter than say, the Andromeda Galaxy (well, going by apparent brightness, anyway)! Taking pictures of something so bright it could conceivably set your camera on fire is quite a bit different than shooting something that takes several minutes of exposure just to register as a blip above the background noise of your camera's sensor. I saw this with a friend recently who had begun his journey from a solar imager to deep-sky astrophotography. Something I see over and over again with beginning astrophotographers is their complete dismissal of the. If you're looking to get serious about deep-sky astrophotography, here's what FITS can offer you. The FITS file is so much more than just an image format. ![]()
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