Opening IMQ Files

The IMQ file type is primarily associated with ISIS3.

IMQ	File extension: IMQ
	File type:	image file

What is an IMQ file?

IMQ files mostly belong to ISIS3. IMQ files are NASA PDS image files used to store scientific image data from planetary missions. They are formatted to include detailed metadata that meets NASA's standards for data consistency and cross-mission comparison.

Primary Role: They hold imagery and mission details, for example data from Mars Global Surveyor.

Software Tools: Specialized applications such as ISIS3 (ISIS3), PDS_View, and NASAView are used to open and analyze these files.

Alternate Usage: Some variants support data for radar operations like those in Skyguard Radar Data.

FilExt.com tip: These files follow strict NASA PDS guidelines, and the embedded metadata is key for proper data analysis. To work with an IMQ file, use the dedicated software that recognizes its unique structure and metadata.

How to open an IMQ file

You need a suitable software like ISIS3 to open an IMQ 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 IMQ file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a IMQ file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online IMQ Text Viewer

Choose your .imq file to analyze

or drag and drop it here

Online File Viewer

✈

Read our privacy guarantee in Filext’s terms and privacy policy

Please allow ads on our site

This helps us keep our servers running. Then re-upload your file to view it.

Click here to see how to disable the ad blocker for filext.com

IMQ file format:

Every file has a defined file format, i.e. how the data is arranged in the file. Often, the file format can be deduced from the file extension or the initial bytes (called the signature). However, different programs can use the same file extension. Furthermore, a file extension can be renamed incorrectly and double-clicking on it will then display an error when it is opened. Exact knowledge of the format is therefore important in order to solve problems occurring in files. Our evaluation of the IMQ files looks like this:

IMQ is not a commonly used file extension and includes different formats for different programs. The two most popular formats are as follows:

• 55% of all IMQ files start with the magic bytes 2D 00 4E 4A 50 4C 31 49 30 30 50 44 53 31 30 30, which are always the first bytes of this file format. The content consists of illegible binary data, which can only be read and interpreted by the associated programs. A typical file size is 200 KB. The file type is relatively new. Certain words are almost always found in the files, such as /*   FILE FORMAT AND LENGTH2, FILE_RECORDS, NJPL1I00PDS100000000   = SFDU_LABEL, RECORD_BYTES   = 836& and RECORD_TYPE   = VARIABLE_LENGTH&. c1630910.imq or c2624036.imq is a typical file name.
• 30% of all IMQ files use the same file format, which have the signature 35 00 43 43 53 44 33 5A 46 30 30 30 30 31 30 30. They consist of unreadable binary data. IMQ files can be up to 720 KB in size, but are often around 180 KB - 530 KB. The files contain the following words: /*   FILE FORMAT AND LENGTH */, CCSD3ZF0000100000001NJPL3IF0PDS200000001 = SFDU_LABEL, FILE_RECOR, RECORD_BYTES   = 836& and RECORD_TYPE   = VARIABLE_LENGTH&. An example of a file name is f035a72.imq or f122s01.imq.

All other IMQ files (15%) have no uniform format, frequently e.g. NASA Planetary Data System image. Drag & drop your file here to see the file format and a preview of your IMQ file!