[fitsbits] [EXT] Re: Re: 16-bit floats {External} {External}

[Seaman, Robert Lewis - (rseaman)]

A new extension type is an interesting thought. More fundamentally, would 16-bit floats be more useful in image arrays or in binary tables?

Rob



On 7/25/25, 4:56 PM, "fitsbits" wrote:


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________________________________
Hi Fitsbits,
Although retired I still have a private opinion.
Allowing a new data type in the primary header would in principle force all readers to be upgraded. A significant request.
A better way would be to create a new extension type for radio astronomy. This would give full freedom to include any format or feature needed without forcing old readers to be upgraded.
Yours
Preben Grosboel
--
Sent with GMX Mail app



On 7/25/25, 17:44 Maren Purves via fitsbits <fitsbits at listmgr.nrao.edu<http://listmgr.nrao.edu>> wrote:
As another one who also dates back to the days of punched cards, the
80 character length is what the punched cards had, 80 characters, 7
bit ASCII.

I'm glad Malcolm got back to doing some astronomical research after retiring.

Maren (nominally head of instrument and telescope software at the East
Asian Observatory/JCMT but really more of a sysadmin these days)

On Thu, Jul 24, 2025 at 11:24 PM Malcolm J. Currie via fitsbits
<fitsbits at listmgr.nrao.edu<http://listmgr.nrao.edu>> wrote:
>
> > Just because we are old does not mean that we are not working on state-of-the art software. The reason for wanting 16-bit floats is for this
> > specific reason. Radio astronomy software would benefit from 16-bit floats.
>
> Absolutely. That realisation had crossed my mind at the time, and I
> wondered whether to qualify my statement. The groups weren't mutually
> exclusive. In the end I decided not to dilute the point that we do need
> fresh blood in the FITS WG.
>
> Malcolm
>
>
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