Opening a FITS File

The FITS file type is primarily associated with DS9.

FITS	File extension: FITS
	File type:	data file

What is a FITS file?

FITS files mostly belong to DS9. FITS stands for Flexible Image Transport System. It is a file format designed to store and transport scientific data, especially from astronomical observations.

The file contains a header with key-value pairs that describe the data details, such as calibration, orientation, and instrument settings.

The data section may include images, spectra, or multi-dimensional arrays.

It is used by researchers to exchange and archive observational data.

FilExt.com tip: Programs such as DS9 or applications built around IDL can open these files. For more details, visit the FITS official webpage.

How do you open FITS files?

You need a suitable software like DS9 to open a FITS file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your FITS file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a FITS file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online FITS File Viewer

Choose your .fits file to view this image

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

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How to convert FITS files to JPG, PDF, HTML, DOC, ...

You can convert FITS files using our online FITS file viewer (powered by Convert.Guru):

To do so, click the "Choose your .fits file to view this image" button above.
Your FITS file will then be displayed in the browser.
Now click on "Save as..." at the top of the page.
Then click the file format (e.g. PDF, JPG, DOCX, TXT, ...) you want.
Download the converted file.

Programs that open and convert FITS files:

DS9
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. FITS files are often referred to as DS9 data files because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
FITS
FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) is the data format most widely used within astronomy for transporting, analyzing, and archiving scientific data files. FITS is much more than just another image format (such as JPG or GIF) and is primarily designed to store scientific data sets consisting of multidimensional arrays (images) and 2-dimensional tables organized into rows and columns of information. Often this file will have the extension .FIZ. This file format is classified as Graphic. Related links: FITS Image Viewers and Converters, A Primer on the FITS Data Format, FITS archive at NRAO
FITS Graphic
Flexible Image Transport System - Camera CCD Image Related links: XnView

FITS file extension format:

To view or edit FITS files you need to know the file format, because it determines how the data in this file is stored. The file format can be determined based on the file extension and the signature (the first few characters of a file). Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Our evaluation of the FITS files looks like this:

The FITS file extension is primarily used by a single program. The two most popular formats are as follows:

99% of all FITS files are associated with Flexible Image Transport System bitmap. These files contain neither text nor words, but only data. A typical file size is 1 MB. The file type is old but is used even today. The files contain the following words: BITPIX, NAXIS, SIMPLE, FITS standard, number, data, bits and pixel. Files like these are about nebula, wfpc, stack, xxxxx, blue, capture, frames, light, table, bits and moon.

All other FITS files (1%) have no uniform format. The category is calibrated, telescope, whirlpool, galactic, meerkat, centre, halpha, saturn, eagle, dark, data, kplr or spec. Just click the "Choose your .fits file to view this image" button on this page to find out what your FITS file is.

Technical Data for FITS File Extension

File classification:

Data

Related files:

fit, fts, fits.gz, fit.gz, fts.gz, wcs, zip, ffi, gz, lc, x, ris, fiz

Mime type:

application/fits, image/fits

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: GraphicsConverterPro.fits, FileType: Flexible Image Transport Systeme, AppName: GraphicsConverter-reg
EXEFile: GraphicsConverter.exe

ProgramID: FitsImage
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS\Photoshop.exe %1

ProgramID: TheGIMP13
EXEFile: C:\GIMP-1.3\bin\gimp-1.3.exe %1

ProgramID: XnView.Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\XnView\xnview.exe %1

ProgramID: CCDSoft_File
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\SOFTWARE BISQUE\CCDSOFT VERSION 5\CCDSOFT.EXE

ProgramID: CCD_Image
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Diffraction Limited\MaxIm DL 3\MaxIm_DL.exe

ProgramID: GIMP-2.0-fit
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\Gimp-2.0\bin\gimp-2.6.exe

Show all 7 listings To Top

a fits data file is a special file format and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with FITS files

Associate the FITS file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open data files. Because only the current version supports the latest FITS file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the manufacturer website after an available DS9 update.
To make sure that your FITS file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .FITS file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.