==== FITS file handling ===
FITS files are the standard format for astronomical images.  The [[https://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov/fits_standard.html | standard]] has developed since 1976.  Revisions are approved by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). An example: 

{{:maxim-dl.png?nolink|}}
The FITS file image of the Orion Nebula open in MaxIm DL, a general purpose application for scripting and image processing, showing image metadata in the FITS header.  Superstacker called Maxim DL for FITS file handling.

The FITS file format is complex, but [[https://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov/fits_libraries.html | libraries]] are available in C++, C#, FORTRAN, Java, Python and other languages (but not in FORTH, as far as is widely documented).
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-> [[plate-solve | Plate solving]]

<- [[scripting-application | The scripting application]]