Broken/Advanced Scientific Data Format
Advanced Scientific Data Format (ASDF) is a proposed replacement to the FITS standard for astronomical images and other astronomical data.[1] The metadata is contained in a YAML header followed by binary or ASCII data.
Improvements to FITS
The Flexible Image Transport System FITS standard is a widely used data format in astronomy that incorporates metadata and ascii or binary data in the same file.[2] However, the FITS standard has several limitations that make it difficult to use for complicated and hierarchical data. For example, the FITS 'cards' have keywords limited to only 8 characters, which can make it difficult to properly describe the value associated with it and the value for each keyword and its comment cannot be longer than 68 characters.[1] By using YAML, more sophisticated and nested data structures may be used in ASDF than FITS.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Greenfield, P.; Droettboom, M.; Bray, E. (2015). "ASDF: A new data format for astronomy". Astronomy and Computing 12: 240–251. doi:10.1016/j.ascom.2015.06.004. Bibcode: 2015A&C....12..240G.
- ↑ Wells, D. C.; Greisen, E. W.; Harten, R. H. (June 1981). "FITS: A Flexible Image Transport System". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series 44: 363–370. Bibcode: 1981A&AS...44..363W.
External links
- Advanced Scientific Data Format (Original source)
- Official website for documentation
