Makali`i   :   New Feature of Ver. 1.3d or Later

Selection of the coordinate origin of FITS image

It is able to select whether to make the coordinate origin of FITS image an upper left corner or a lower left corner, via [file - Preference] menu.

Background

It is recommended that the first pixel in the FITS file (for each image plane) would be displayed in the lower-left corner (with the first axis increasing to the right and the second axis increasing upwards) by the imaging system of the FITS writer. (Greisen et al. 2002, A&A, 395, 1061-1075 ; FITS World Coordinate System (WCS) Paper I). The data taken by Subaru Telescope, HST, and so on, follow this recommendation.

On the other hand, the coordinate origin of the other image formats such as JPEG is an upper-left corner.

A lot of FITS image processing / CCD control software, especially whose main users are amateur observers, do not work to follow the recommendation previously written. Such software make the coordinate origin not the lower-left corner but the upper-left corner to display the FITS image.

So, if the data taken by Subaru etc. was displayed with Makalii Ver. 1.3c (or more previous version), the image will be displayed upside down.

Then, since MAKALII ver. 1.3d, you can select whether the first pixel in the FITS file (for each image plane) would be displayed in the lower-left corner or in the upper-left corner.

How to setup

If you want to set the coordinate origin of FITS IMAGE the lower left corner, you need to DO NOTHING.

If you want to set the coordinate origin of FITS IMAGE the upper-left corner, please follow the instructions.

  1. Start MAKALII.
  2. Select [File - Preference] menu. Then, the Preference dialog will be opened.
  3. Off the "FITS format is read bottom-up." check-box in the Preference dialog.
  4. Press [OK] button. The Preference dialog will be closed.
  5. Restart MAKALII to reflect the setup.

The other changes and bug fixes

Please refer the "readme.txt" file included in the Makalii installer archive.

Ver. 1.3c

Though to use latest version is strongly recommended, if you want to use Ver. 1.3c, you can get it from here: Makalii Ver. 1.3c Installer (English Ver.)



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