[fitsbits] MIME types for FITS

[Steve Allen]

Don Wells initially suggested MIME types for FITS some years ago at
ADASS.  In the interim the virtual observatory efforts have begun
defining web service methods which exchange astronomical data as FITS
files.  The internet standards for such exchanges specify that each
file is served along with a MIME type.  There is no MIME type
registered for FITS.  This lack now deserves remedy.

Registration of MIME types for FITS means simultaneously satisfying
the requirements of the astronomical community and the internet
community.  Rather than bog down generic FITS discussions with the
esoteric legalese of establishing the text of the document, there is
as of this week a fitsmime mailing list akin to the fitsbits mailing
list.  The discussion of MIME types for FITS needs sage input in
order that the result meet the present and future needs of astronomy.

The content of the mailing list is publicly visible at
http://listmgr.cv.nrao.edu/pipermail/fitsmime/

There is a draft of the text for an internet RFC that would serve
to register MIME types for FITS at
http://www.ucolick.org/~sla/fits/mime/

--
Steve Allen          UCO/Lick Observatory       Santa Cruz, CA 95064
sla at ucolick.org      Voice: +1 831 459 3046     http://www.ucolick.org/~sla
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