Advanced Scientific Data Format: Difference between revisions

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'''Advanced Scientific Data Format''' ('''ASDF''') is a proposed replacement to the [[FITS]] standard for astronomical images and other astronomical data.<ref name=Greenfield2015>{{cite journal |last1=Greenfield |first1=P. |last2=Droettboom |first2=M. |last3=Bray |first3=E. |year=2015 |title=ASDF: A new data format for astronomy |journal=Astronomy and Computing |volume=12 |pages=240–251 |doi=10.1016/j.ascom.2015.06.004 |bibcode = 2015A&C....12..240G}}</ref> replacement to the [[FITS]] standard for astronomical images and other astronomical data. 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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wells |first1=D. C. |last2=Greisen |first2=E. W. |last3=Harten |first3=R. H. |title=FITS: A Flexible Image Transport System |journal=Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series |volume=44 |pages=363–370 |date=June 1981 |bibcode=1981A&AS...44..363W}}</ref> is a widely used data format in astronomy that incorporates metadata and ascii or binary data in the same file. 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.<ref name=Greenfield2015 /> By using [[YAML]], more sophisticated and nested data structures may be used in ASDF than FITS.

==References==