Nightlight is a new desktop application whose aim is to bring a modern interface to FITS files with the polish and design people expect from applications they use every day. By making it a native Macintosh application, one is able to leverage cutting edge frameworks that enable GPU acceleration, multithreading, interactive touch interfaces, real-time image processing, desktop metadata indexing, and more. FITS (flexible image transport system) is the standard file format used by professional astronomers. Nightlight is designed to answer the question, “What is in this FITS file?” without requiring a line of code.
Features:
• view the structure of a FITS file at a glance
• displays all image and table HDUs
• thumbnail view of all HDUs
• metadata “card” view for table columns
• supports an unlimited number of table rows and columns
• inspector panels for image views
• supports WCS (world coordinate system) overlays for ten coordinate systems
• pinch and zoom image magnification for trackpad users
• FITS headers displayed in a floating panel
• Nightlight uses Spotlight to find all the FITS files on your computer for you
New features will be continually added. Features will be determined and prioritized by Nightlight users. A feature voting system will be available soon.
While I have tested hundreds of files, it’s impossible to have tested every FITS file available. If you have any problem viewing a particular file, please contact me and I will do my best to address it.
Custom visualizations for your telescope, instrument, or survey are available. Contact me for details.
More information about Nightlight can be found here:
• Nightlight web site: http://nightlightapp.io, including the FAQ: http://nightlightapp.io/faq
• @nightlightviz on Twitter
• contact Demitri Muna at [email protected]
Want to talk about Nightlight? Join the discussion group here: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/nightlight-discuss
Note: This version of Nightlight only supports macOS 10.12. Nightlight will support earlier systems pending further testing.
