[fitsbits] Proposed Changes to the FITS Standard

[William Pence]

This is to announce the start of the public comment period on proposed 
changes to update and clarify the "FITS Standard" format definition 
document.  The last major revision to this document was made in 1998 - 
1999, so it is due for for an update to reflect changes that have 
occurred since then.

These proposed changes have been recommended by a small technical panel 
that was appointed by the IAU FITS Working Group in early 2007.  This 
panel has produced 3 documents that describe the proposed changes:

1.  A short (9 page) summary of the main recommendations.

2.  A color coded "differences" document (137 pages) that shows
     most of the changes in detail.

3.  A draft of the new Standard document (version 3.0, 125 pages) as
     it would appear if all these changes are accepted.

This material is now available for public review and comment via links 
on the FITS Support Office home page at

               http://fits.gsfc.nasa.gov

No radical changes to the FITS format are being proposed, but some of 
the proposals do modify basic FITS requirements or recommendations.  We 
urge that everyone who uses or is interested in the future of the FITS 
format should at least read the summary document.

Please post any comments, suggestions, or concerns regarding these 
proposals (or any other suggestions for improving the Standard document) 
here on the FITSBITS email list, or on the associated sci.astro.fits 
newsgroup.   Comments may also be submitted to any member of the FITS 
technical panel that produced these recommendations (listed below).

This public comment period will remain open at least until the end of 
September 2007.  It is anticipated that these proposals will also be 
discussed during a session at the ADASS meeting in London, September 23 
- 26.  These proposals will likely be revised in response to the 
comments that are received.  Eventually, it is expected that the 
regional FITS committees, and the IAU FITS Working Group, will formally 
consider adopting the proposed changes.


The FITS Technical Panel,

   William D. Pence (Chair), NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
   Lucio Chiappetti, IASF Milano, INAF, Italy
   Clive G. Page, University of Leicester, UK
   Richard Shaw, National Optical Astronomical Obs
   Elizabeth Stobie, University of Arizona

-- 
____________________________________________________________________
Dr. William Pence                       pence at milkyway.gsfc.nasa.gov
NASA/GSFC Code 662       HEASARC        +1-301-286-4599 (voice)
Greenbelt MD 20771                      +1-301-286-1684 (fax)