Question about a fits header

[Thomas A. McGlynn]

Patrick Wallace wrote:
> 
> On Wed, 4 Sep 1996, Alanna Spehr wrote:
> 
> > I have fits files that have:
> >
> > OBS_TIME=                52917
> >
> > in their header. (Along with OBS_DATE and DATE, if it matters.)
> > Can somebody tell me what the 52917 is, and how I can change it
> > to something more useful?
> 
> My guess is it's a Modified Julian Date (JD-2400000.5).  A procedure
> for turning an MJD into year, month, day is appended.  There are
> other ways of doing it (see the Explanatory Supplement to the
> Astronomical Almanac).
> 
> Patrick Wallace
> 
Alas, MJD 52917 is about 7 years in the future.  I think
you need to get in touch with whoever wrote the FITS file
to find out what it means.
		Tom McGlynn