---
name: "ds9"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "saods9"
version: "8.6+repack-5"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ds9"
---

# ds9(1)

image tool for astronomy

## NAME

ds9 - image tool for astronomy

## SYNOPSIS

**ds9** \[*options*\]\

## DESCRIPTION

**DS9** DS9 is the modern image tool used by astronomers for visualization of astronomical data.  It supports a plethora of command line options, which may be used in a script-like fashion.  An instance of the program is entirely controllable from the commandline with the XPA tools.

## OPTIONS

-

  - **-analysis**

  histogram save

  ds9 -region composite

  ds9 -region dissolve

  ds9 -region template foo.tpl

  ds9 -region template foo.tpl at 13:29:55.92 +47:12:48.02 fk5

  ds9 -region savetemplate foo.tpl

  ds9 -region group new

  ds9 -region group foo new

  ds9 -region group foo update

  ds9 -region group foo select

  ds9 -region group foo color red

  ds9 -region group foo copy

  ds9 -region group foo delete

  ds9 -region group foo cut

  ds9 -region group foo font 'times 14 bold'

  ds9 -region group foo move 100 100

  ds9 -region group foo movefront

  ds9 -region group foo moveback

  ds9 -region group foo property delete no

  ds9 -region copy

  ds9 -region cut

  ds9 -region paste wcs

  ds9 -region undo

  ds9 -region open

  ds9 -region close

  rreedd For RGB frames,  sets the current color channel to red.

  **Syntax**

  \-red

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rgb -red foo.fits

  rreessttoorree Restore DS9 to a previous state from a backup save set.

  **Syntax**

  \-restore \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -restore ds9.bck

  rrggbb Create RGB frame and control RGB frame parameters.

  **Syntax**

  \-rgb \[\] \
    \[red\| green\| blue\] \
    \[channel \[red\| green\| blue\] \] \
    \[view \[red\| green\| blue\]  \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \[system \<coordsys\> \] \
    \[lock wcs\| crop\| slice\| bin\| scale\| scalelimits\| colorbar\| block\| smooth \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rgb # create new rgb frame

  ds9 -rgb red # set current channel to red

  ds9 -rgb channel red # set current channel to red

  ds9 -rgb view blue no # turn off blue channel

  ds9 -rgb system wcs # set rgb coordinate system

  ds9 -rgb lock wcs yes

  ds9 -rgb lock crop yes

  ds9 -rgb lock slice yes

  ds9 -rgb lock bin yes

  ds9 -rgb lock scale yes

  ds9 -rgb lock scalelimits yes

  ds9 -rgb lock colorbar yes

  ds9 -rgb lock block yes

  ds9 -rgb lock smooth yes

  ds9 -rgb open

  ds9 -rgb close

  rrggbbaarrrraayy Load raw data array cube into rgb frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-rgbarray \<filename\> \[\[xdim=\<x\> , ydim=\<y\> \| dim=\<dim\> \] ,  \[zdim=3\] , bitpix=\<b\> , skip=\<s\> , endian=\[little\| big\] \]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rgbarray foo.arr\[dim=512, zdim=3, bitpix=-32, endian=little\]

  $cat foo.arr \|  ds9 -rgbarray -\[dim=512, zdim=3, bitpix=-32, endian=little\]  rrggbbccuubbee Load FITS rgbcube into rgb frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-rgbcube \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rgbcube foo.fits

  $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -rgbcube - rrggbbiimmaaggee Load FITS rgbimage into rgb frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-rgbimage \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rgbimage foo.fits

  $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -rgbimage - rroottaattee Controls the rotation angle (in degrees) of the current frame.\<

  **Syntax**

  \-rotate \[\<value\> \] \
    \[to \<value\> \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -rotate 45

  ds9 -rotate to 30

  ds9 -rotate open

  ds9 -rotate close

  ssaammpp Configure SAMP protocol.

  **Syntax**

  \-samp \[yes\| no\] \
    \| client \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \| hub \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \| web hub \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \| connect\| disconnect\] \
    \[broadcast \[image\| table\] \] \
    \[send \[image\| table\]  \<application\> \] \
    \[hub \[start\| stop\| info\] \]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -samp yes

  ds9 -samp connect

  ds9 -samp broadcast

  ds9 -samp broadcast table

  ds9 -samp send table

  ds9 -samp send table topcat

  ds9 -samp hub info

  ssaattuurraattiioonn For HLS and HSV frames,  sets the current color channel to saturation.

  **Syntax**

  \-saturation

  **Example:**

  ds9 -hsv -saturation foo.fits

  ssaavvee Save loaded image data of current frame as FITS.

  **Syntax**

  \-save\[fits\| rgbimage\| rgbcube\| mecube\| mosaic\| mosaicimage\]  \<filename\>  \[image\| table\| slice\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -save foo.fits

  ds9 -save fits foo.fits image

  ds9 -save fits foo.fits table

  ds9 -save fits foo.fits slice

  ds9 -save rgbimage foo.fits

  ds9 -save rgbcube foo.fits

  ds9 -save mecube foo.fits

  ds9 -save mosaic foo.fits

  ds9 -save mosaicimage foo.fits

  ssaavveeiimmaaggee Create a snap shot of the current DS9 window and save in specified image format. If no format specified,  the file name extension is used to determine the output format. Optional parameters: jpeg quality int(1-100) and tiff compression method.

  **Syntax**

  \-saveimage\[fits\| eps\| gif\| tiff\| jpeg\| png\] \<filename\>  -saveimage \<filename\> .jpeg \[int(1-100)\]  -saveimage \<filename\> .tiff \[none\| jpeg\| packbits\| deflate\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -saveimage ds9.tiff

  ds9 -saveimage jpeg ds9.jpeg 75

  ssccaallee Controls the limits and color scale distribution.

  **Syntax**

  \-scale \[linear\| log\| pow\| sqrt\| squared\| asinh\| sinh\| histequ\] \
    \[log exp \<value\> \] \
    \[datasec yes\| no\] \
    \[limits \<minvalue\>  \<maxvalue\> \] \
    \[mode minmax\| \<value\> \| zscale\| zmax\] \
    \[scope local\| global\] \
    \[match\] \
    \[match limits\] \
    \[lock \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \[lock limits \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -scale linear

  ds9 -scale log exp 100

  ds9 -scale datasec yes

  ds9 -scale histequ

  ds9 -scale limits 1 100

  ds9 -scale mode zscale

  ds9 -scale mode 99.5

  ds9 -scale scope local

  ds9 -scale match

  ds9 -scale match limits

  ds9 -scale lock yes

  ds9 -scale lock limits yes

  ds9 -scale open

  ds9 -scale close

  sshhmm Load a shared memory segment into the current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-shm \[\<key\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[key \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[shmid \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[fits \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[mosaicimage \[iraf\| wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\| wfpc2\]  \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[mosaic \[iraf\| wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\]  \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[rgbcube \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[rgbimage \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[\<filename\> \] \] \
    \[rgbarray \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[xdim=\<x\> , ydim=\<y\> \| dim=\<dim\> , zdim=3\] , bitpix=\<b\> ,  \[skip=\<s\> \] \] \
    \[array \[key\| shmid\]  \<id\>  \[xdim=\<x\> , ydim=\<y\> \| dim=\<dim\> \] , bitpix=\<b\> ,  \[skip=\<s\> \] \]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -shm 102

  ds9 -shm key 102

  ds9 -shm shmid 102 foo

  ds9 -shm fits 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaicimage iraf key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaicimage wcs key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaicimage wcsa key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaicimage wfpc2 key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaic iraf key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm mosaic wcs key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm rgbcube key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm rgbimage key 100 foo

  ds9 -shm rgbarray shmid 102 \[dim=32, zdim=3, bitpix=-32\]

  ds9 -shm array shmid 102 \[dim=32, bitpix=-32\]

  ssiiaa Support for VO Simple Image Access protocol. The first command will create a new search. All other commands operated on the last search created,  unless indicated otherwise via current command.

  **Syntax**

  \-sia\[2mass\| akari\| astrowise\| cadc\| cxc\| hla\| mast\| sdss\| skyview\| tgssadr\] \
    \[cancel\] \
    \[clear\] \
    \[close\] \
    \[save \<filename\> \] \
    \[export rdb\| tsv \<filename\> \] \
    \[coordinate \<ra\>  \<dec\>  \<coordsys\> \] \
    \[crosshair\] \
    \[current \<ref\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \] \
    \[print\] \
    \[retrieve\] \
    \[radius \<value\>  degrees\| arcmin\| arcsec\] \
    \[sky \<skyframe\> \] \
    \[skyformat \<skyformat\> \] \
    \[system \<coordsys\> \] \
    \[update\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -sia 2mass

  ds9 -sia cancel

  ds9 -sia clear

  ds9 -sia close

  ds9 -sia coordinate 202.48 47.21 fk5

  ds9 -sia crosshair

  ds9 -sia current 2mass

  ds9 -sia export tsv bar.tsv

  ds9 -sia name m51

  ds9 -sia print

  ds9 -sia retrieve

  ds9 -sia save foo.xml

  ds9 -sia radius 1 degrees

  ds9 -sia sky fk5

  ds9 -sia skyformat degrees

  ds9 -sia system wcs

  ds9 -sia update

  ssiinnggllee Set display mode to single.

  **Syntax**

  \-single

  **Example:**

  ds9 -single

  sskkyyvviieeww Support for SkyView image server at HEASARC.

  **Syntax**

  \-skyview \[\] \
    \[\<object\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \| clear\] \
    \[\<ra\>  \<dec\> \]  # in wcs fk5\
    \[size \<width\>  \<height\>  degrees\| arcmin\| arcsec\] \
    \[pixels \<width\>  \<height\> \] \
    \[save yes\| no\] \
    \[frame new\| current\] \
    \[update frame\| crosshair\] \
    \[survey \<survey\> \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -skyview

  ds9 -skyview m31

  ds9 -skyview name m31

  ds9 -skyview name clear

  ds9 -skyview 00:42:44.404 +41:16:08.78

  ds9 -skyview size 60 60 arcmin

  ds9 -skyview pixels 600 600

  ds9 -skyview save yes

  ds9 -skyview frame current

  ds9 -skyview update frame

  ds9 -skyview survey sdssi

  ds9 -skyview open

  ds9 -skyview close

  sslleeeepp Delays execution for specified number of seconds. Default is 1 second.

  **Syntax**

  \-sleep \[#\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -sleep

  ds9 -sleep 2

  sslliiccee nnoosslliiccee Indicates next files loaded are to treated as slices of a cube. Can be disabled with noslice command.

  **Syntax**

  \-slice \<filename\>  -noslice

  **Example:**

  ds9 -slice \*.fits

  ds9 -noslice

  ssmmooootthh Smooth current image or set smooth parameters. Boxcar width =2\*radius+1 Tophat diameter =2\*radius+1 Gaussian diameter =2\*radius+1, mean=0 Elliptical Gaussian diameter =2\*radius+1, mean=0

  **Syntax**

  \-smooth \[\] \
    \[yes\| no\] \
    \[function boxcar\| tophat\| gaussian\| elliptic\] \
    \[radius \<value\> \] \
    \[radiusminor \<value\> \] \
    \[sigma \<value\> \] \
    \[sigmaminor \<value\> \] \
    \[angle \<value\> \] \
    \[match\] \
    \[lock \[yes\| no\] \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -smooth

  ds9 -smooth yes

  ds9 -smooth function tophat

  ds9 -smooth radius 4

  ds9 -smooth radiusminor 4

  ds9 -smooth sigma 2.0

  ds9 -smooth sigmaminor 2.0

  ds9 -smooth angle 45

  ds9 -smooth match

  ds9 -smooth lock yes

  ds9 -smooth open

  ds9 -smooth close

  ssqquuaarreedd Select squared scale function for the current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-squared

  **Example:**

  ds9 -squared

  ssqqrrtt Select square soot scale function for the current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-sqrt

  **Example:**

  ds9 -sqrt

  ssoouurrccee Source TCL code from a file.

  **Syntax**

  \-source \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -source extensions.tcl

  ttccll Execute one TCL command. Note: this a different behavior from previous versions of DS9.

  **Syntax**

  \-tcl \<tcl command\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -tcl 'puts "Hello,  World"'

  ttiiffff Load TIFF image into current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-tiff \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -tiff foo.tiff

  $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -tiff - ttiillee Controls the tile display mode.

  **Syntax**

  \-tile \[\] \
    \[yes\| no\] \
    \[mode grid\| column\| row\] \
    \[grid\] \
    \[grid mode automatic\| manual\] \
    \[grid direction x\| y\] \
    \[grid layout \<col\>  \<row\> \] \
    \[grid gap \<pixels\> \] \
    \[row\] \
    \[column\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -tile

  ds9 -tile yes

  ds9 -tile mode row

  ds9 -tile grid

  ds9 -tile grid mode manual

  ds9 -tile grid direction x

  ds9 -tile grid layout 5 5

  ds9 -tile grid gap 10

  ds9 -tile row

  ds9 -tile column

  ttiittllee Changes the display window title to the specified name.

  **Syntax**

  \-title name

  **Example:**

  ds9 -title Voyager

  uunniixx Set the IRAF unix socket name,  used by IRAF to communicate with DS9. The default is /tmp/.IMT%d,  so that the standard IRAF unix socket is defined.

  **Syntax**

  \-unix name

  **Example:**

  ds9 -unix "/tmp/.IMT%d"

  uunniixx\_\_oonnllyy Only use the IRAF unix socket name. This is the same as -fifo none -port 0.

  **Syntax**

  \-unix\_only

  **Example:**

  ds9 -unix\_only

  uuppddaattee Updates the current frame or region of frame. In the second form,  the first argument is the number of the fits HDU (starting with 1) and the remaining args are a bounding box in IMAGE coordinates. By default,  the screen is updated the next available idle cycle. However,  you may force an immediate update by specifying the NOW option.

  **Syntax**

  \-update \[\] \
    \[# x1 y1 x2 y2\] \
    \[now\] \
    \[now # x1 y1 x2 y2\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -update

  ds9 -update 1 100 100 300 400

  ds9 -update now

  ds9 -update now 1 100 100 300 400

  uurrll Load FITS from URL into the current frame

  **Syntax**

  \-url \<url\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -url http://foo.bar.edu/foo.fits

  vvaalluuee For HSV frames,  sets the current color channel to value.

  **Syntax**

  \-value

  **Example:**

  ds9 -hsv -value foo.fits

  vveerrssiioonn Returns the current version of DS9 and exits.

  **Syntax**

  \-version

  **Example:**

  ds9 -version

  vviieeww Controls the GUI.

  **Syntax**

  \-view \[layout horizontal\| vertical\| basic\| advanced\] \
    \[multi yes\| no\] \
    \[keyvalue \<string\> \] \
    \[info yes\| no\] \
    \[panner yes\| no\] \
    \[magnifier yes\| no\] \
    \[buttons yes\| no\] \
    \[icons yes\| no\] \
    \[colorbar yes\| no\] \
    \[graph horizontal\| vertical yes\| no\] \
    \[filename yes\| no\] \
    \[object yes\| no\] \
    \[keyword yes\| no\] \
    \[minmax yes\| no\] \
    \[lowhigh yes\| no\] \
    \[units yes\| no\] \
    \[image\| physical\| wcs\| wcsa...wcsz yes\| no\] \
    \[frame yes\| no\] \
    \[rgb red yes\| no\] \
    \[rgb green yes\| no\] \
    \[rgb blue yes\| no\] \
    \[hls hue yes\| no\] \
    \[hls lightness yes\| no\] \
    \[hls saturation yes\| no\] \
    \[hsv hue yes\| no\] \
    \[hsv saturation yes\| no\] \
    \[hsv value yes\| no\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -view layout vertical

  ds9 -view multi yes

  ds9 -view keyvalue BITPIX

  ds9 -view info yes

  ds9 -view panner yes

  ds9 -view magnifier yes

  ds9 -view buttons yes

  ds9 -view icons yes

  ds9 -view colorbar yes

  ds9 -view graph horizontal yes

  ds9 -view filename yes

  ds9 -view object yes

  ds9 -view keyword yes

  ds9 -view minmax yes

  ds9 -view lowhigh yes

  ds9 -view wcsa yes

  ds9 -view frame yes

  ds9 -view rgb red yes

  vviissuuaall Force DS9 to use the specified color visual. This argument MUST be the first argument listed. Requires the visual be available.

  **Syntax**

  \-visual \[truecolor\| truecolor8\| truecolor16\| truecolor24\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -visual truecolor24

  vvllaa Support for VLA Sky Survey.

  **Syntax**

  \-vla \[\] \
    \[\<object\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \| clear\] \
    \[\<ra\>  \<dec\> \]  # in wcs fk5\
    \[size \<width\>  \<height\>  degrees\| arcmin\| arcsec\] \
    \[save yes\| no\] \
    \[frame new\| current\] \
    \[update frame\| crosshair\] \
    \[survey first\| stripe82\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -vla

  ds9 -vla m31

  ds9 -vla name m31

  ds9 -vla name clear

  ds9 -vla 00:42:44.404 +41:16:08.78

  ds9 -vla size 60 60 arcmin

  ds9 -vla save yes

  ds9 -vla frame current

  ds9 -vla update frame

  ds9 -vla survey stripe82

  ds9 -vla open

  ds9 -vla close

  vvllssss Support for NRAO VLSS Sky Survey.

  **Syntax**

  \-vlss \[\] \
    \[\<object\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \| clear\] \
    \[\<ra\>  \<dec\> \]  # in wcs fk5\
    \[size \<width\>  \<height\>  degrees\| arcmin\| arcsec\] \
    \[save yes\| no\] \
    \[frame new\| current\] \
    \[update frame\| crosshair\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -vlss

  ds9 -vlss m31

  ds9 -vlss name m31

  ds9 -vlss name clear

  ds9 -vlss 00:42:44.404 +41:16:08.78

  ds9 -vlss size 60 60 arcmin

  ds9 -vlss save yes

  ds9 -vlss frame current

  ds9 -vlss update frame

  ds9 -vlss open

  ds9 -nvess close

  vvoo Invoke an connection to a Virtual Observatory site.

  **Syntax**

  \-vo \[method xpa\| mime\] \
    \[server \<url\> \] \
    \[internal yes\| no\] \
    \[delay #\] \
    \[\<url\> \] \
    \[connect \<url\> \] \
    \[disconnect \<url\> \] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -vo method xpa

  ds9 -vo server "http://foo.bar.edu/list.txt"

  ds9 -vo internal yes

  ds9 -vo delay 15 # keep-alive delay

  ds9 -vo chandra-ed

  ds9 -vo connect chandra-ed

  ds9 -vo disconnect chandra-ed

  ds9 -vo open

  ds9 -vo close

  wwccss Controls the World Coordinate System for the current frame. If the wcs system,  skyframe,  or skyformat is modified,  the info panel,  compass,  grid,  and

  - **-mecube**

    \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -mecube foo.fits

   $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -mecube -\
    mmiinnmmaaxx\
    This is how DS9 determines the min and max data values from the\
    data. SCAN will scan all data.

  **Syntax**

   \-minmax \[scan\| sample\| datamin\| irafmin\] \
    \[mode scan\| sample\| datamin\| irafmin\] \
    \[interval #\] \
    \[rescan\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -minmax scan

  ds9 -minmax mode scan

  ds9 -minmax interval 100

  ds9 -minmax rescan

   mmooddee\
    Select the current mode.

  **Syntax**

   \-mode\
    \[none\| region\| crosshair\| colorbar\| pan\| zoom\| rotate\| catalog\| examine\| 3d\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -mode crosshair

   mmoossaaiicc\
    Load FITS mosaic segment into current frame.

  **Syntax**

   \-mosaic \[wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\| iraf\]  \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -mosaic foo.fits

  ds9 -mosaic wcs foo.fits

   $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -mosaic -\
    $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -mosaic wcs -\
    mmoossaaiicciimmaaggee\
    Load FITS mosaic image into current frame.

  **Syntax**

   \-mosaicimage \[wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\| iraf\| wfpc2\]  \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -mosaicimage foo.fits

  ds9 -mosaicimage wcs foo.fits

   $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -mosaicimage\
    $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -mosaiimage wcs\
    mmoovviiee\
    Create a movie from snap shots of the DS9 window. A slice movie\
    cycles though all slices of a cube. A frame movie cycles through all\
    active frames. A 3d movie cycles through specified viewing angles.\
    The default action is slice. Movie types are either MPEG or Animated\
    GIF,  with default MPEG. Optional parameters for 3d: number of frames, \
    azimuth from/to,  elevation from/to,  slice from/to,  oscillate/repeat\
    times.

  **Syntax**

   \-movie \[slice\| frame\]  \[mpeg\| gif \<delay\>  blink\| fade\]  \<filename\> \
    \-movie 3d \[mpeg\| gif \<delay\> \]  \<filename\>  \[number\| az from\| az to\| el\
    from\| el to\| slice from\| slice to\| zoom from\| zoom to\| oscillate\| repeat\
    \<#\> \]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -movie slice mpeg ds9.mpg

  ds9 -movie frame gif ds9.gif

  ds9 -movie frame gif 100 fade ds9.gif

  ds9 -movie 3d mpeg ds9.mpg number 10 az from -60 az to 60 oscillate

   1\
    mmssgg\
    Specify a directory of translation tables to be loaded.

  **Syntax**

   \-msg \<directory\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -msg $HOME/msgs

   mmuullttiiffrraammee\
    Load FITS multiple extension file as multiple images.

  **Syntax**

  - **-multiframe**

    \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -multiframe foo.fits

   $cat foo.fits \|  ds9 -multiframe -\
    nnaammeesseerrvveerr\
    Support Name Server functions. Coordinates are in fk5.

  **Syntax**

   \-nameserver \[\<object\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \] \
    \[skyformat degrees\| sexagesimal\] \
    \[pan\] \
    \[crosshair\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -nameserver m31

  ds9 -nameserver name m31

  ds9 -nameserver server ned-sao

  ds9 -nameserver skyformat sexagesimal

  ds9 -nameserver pan

  ds9 -nameserver crosshair

  ds9 -nameserver open

  ds9 -nameserver close

   nnootteess\
    Display Notebook.

  **Syntax**

  - **-notes**

    \[\<string\> \] \
      \[append \<string\> \] \
      \[insert \<string\> \] \
      \[clear\] \
      \[load \<filename\> \] \
      \[save \<filename\> \] \
      \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -notes 'Hello World'

  ds9 -notes append 'Hello World'

  ds9 -notes insert 'Hello World'

  ds9 -notes clear

  ds9 -notes load foo.txt

  ds9 -notes save foo.txt

  ds9 -notes open

  ds9 -notes close

   nnrrrrdd\
    Load an NRRD (Nearly Raw Raster Data) file.

  **Syntax**

   \-nrrd \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 -nrrd foo.nrrd

   $cat foo.nrrd \|  xpaset ds9 -nrrd-\
    nnvvssss\
    Support for NRAO VLA Sky Survey.

  **Syntax**

   \-nvss \[\] \
    \[\<object\> \] \
    \[name \<object\> \| clear\] \
    \[\<ra\>  \<dec\> \]  # in wcs fk5\
    \[size \<width\>  \<height\>  degrees\| arcmin\| arcsec\] \
    \[save yes\| no\] \
    \[frame new\| current\] \
    \[update frame\| crosshair\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -nvss

  ds9 -nvss m31

  ds9 -nvss name m31

  ds9 -nvss name clear

  ds9 -nvss 00:42:44.404 +41:16:08.78

  ds9 -nvss size 60 60 arcmin

  ds9 -nvss save yes

  ds9 -nvss frame current

  ds9 -nvss update frame

  ds9 -nvss open

  ds9 -nvess close

   oorriieenntt\
    Controls the orientation of the current frame.

  **Syntax**

   \-orient \[none\| x\| y\| xy\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -orient xy

  ds9 -orient open

  ds9 -orient close

   ppaaggeesseettuupp\
    Controls Page Setup options.

  **Syntax**

   \-pagesetup \[orient portrait\| landscape\] \
    \[scale \<numberic\> \] \
    \[size letter\| legal\| tabloid\| poster\| a4\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -pagesetup orient portrait

  ds9 -pagesetup scale 50

  ds9 -pagesetup size poster

   ppaann\
    Controls the current image cursor location for the current frame.

  **Syntax**

   \-pan \[\<x\>  \<h\>  \<coordsys\>  \[\<skyframe\> \] \]  # relative\
    \[to \<x\>  \<h\>  \<coordsys\>  \[\<skyframe\> \] \]  # absolute\
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -pan 200 200 image# pan relative

  ds9 -pan to 400 400 physical# pan to physical coords

  ds9 -pan to 13:29:55 47:11:50 wcs fk# pan to wcs coords

  ds9 -pan open

  ds9 -pan close

   ppiixxeellttaabbllee\
    Display/Hide the pixel table.

  **Syntax**

   \-pixeltable \[\] \
    \[yes\| open\] \
    \[no\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -pixeltable

  ds9 -pixeltable yes

  ds9 -pixeltable open

  ds9 -pixeltable close

   pplloott\
    Display and configure data plots. The last plot created is assumed.\
    Plot data is assumed to be a pair of coordinates,  with optional error

  - **-plot**

    \[line\| bar \[\<ref\> \] \] \
      \[line\| bar \[\<ref\> \]  \<title\>  \<xaxis label\>  \<yaxis label\> \
      xy\| xyex\| xyey\| xyexey\] \
      \# create new plot from data file\
      plot \[line\| bar \<filename\>  \[\<ref\> \]  xy\| xyex\| xyey\| xyexey\] \
      \[line\| bar \<filename\>  \[\<ref\> \]  \<title\>  \<xaxis label\>  \<yaxis label\> \
      xy\| xyex\| xyey\| xyexey\] \
      \# existing plot\
      plot \[gui\] \
      \[load \<filename\>  xy\| xyex\| xyey\| xyexey\] \
      \[save \<filename\> \] \
      \[current \<ref\> \] \
      \[layout grid\| row\| column\| strip\] \
      \[layout strip scale \<percent\> \] \
      \[add graph line\| bar\] \
      \[current graph \<graph\> \] \
      \[delete graph\] \
      \[current dataset \<dataset\> \] \
      \[delete dataset\] \
      \[duplicate\] \
      \[stats yes\| no\] \
      \[list yes\| no\] \
      \[backup \<filename\> \] \
      \[restore \<filename\> \] \
      \[pagesetup orient portrait\| landscape\] \
      \[pagesetup size letter\| legal\| tabloid\| poster\| a4\] \
      \[print\] \
      \[print destination printer\| file\] \
      \[print command \<command\> \] \
      \[print filename \<filename\> \] \
      \[print color rgb\| gray\] \
      \[close\] \
      \[mode pointer\| zoom\] \
      \# export\
      plot \[export \<filename\> \] \
      \[export eps\| gif\| tiff\| jpeg\| png \<filename\> \] \
      \[export jpeg \<filename\>  \[int(1-100)\] \] \
      \[export tiff \<filename\>  none\| jpeg\| packbits\| deflate\] \] \
      \# configure graph\
      plot \[axis x\| y grid yes\| no\] \
      \[axis x\| y log yes\| no\] \
      \[axis x\| y flip yes\| no\] \
      \[axis x\| y auto yes\| no\] \
      \[axis x\| y min \<value\> \] \
      \[axis x\| y max \<value\> \] \
      \[axis x\| y format \<string\> \] \
      \[background \<value\> \] \
      \[legend yes\| no\] \
      \[legend position right\| left\| top\| bottom\| plotarea\] \
      \[font title\| labels\| numbers font times\| helvetica\| courier\] \
      \[font title\| labels\| numbers size \<value\> \] \
      \[font title\| labels\| numbers weight normal\| bold\] \
      \[font title\| labels\| numbers slant roman\| italic\] \
      \[title \<string\> \] \
      \[title x\| y \<string\> \] \
      \# dataset\
      plot \[show yes\| no\] \
      \[name \<string\> \] \
      \# line dataset\
      plot \[line smooth step\| linear\| cubic\| quadratic\| catrom\] \
      \[line color \<value\> \] \
      \[line width \<value\> \] \
      \[line dash yes\| no\] \
      \[line fill yes\| no\] \
      \[line fill color \<value\> \] \
      \[line shape symbol\
      none\| circle\| square\| diamond\| plus\| splus\| scross\| triangle\| arrow\] \
      \[line shape size \<integer\> \] \
      \[line shape color \<value\> \] \
      \[line shape fill yes\| no\] \
      \# bar dataset\
      plot \[bar border color \<value\> \] \
      \[bar border width \<value\> \] \
      \[bar fill yes\| no\] \
      \[bar color \<value\> \] \
      \[bar width \<value\> \] \
      \# error bar\
      plot \[error yes\| no\] \
      \[error color \<value\> \] \
      \[error cap yes\| no\] \
      \[error width \<value\> \]

  **Example:**

   \# create new empty plot window

  ds9 -plot line

  ds9 -plot bar

   \# create new plot from data file

  ds9 -plot line xy.dat xy

  ds9 -plot line xy.dat 'The Title' 'X Axis' 'Y Axis' xy

   \# existing plot

  ds9 -plot gui

  ds9 -plot load xy.dat xy

  ds9 -plot save foo.dat

  ds9 -plot current foo

  ds9 -plot layout strip

  ds9 -plot layout strip scale 30

  ds9 -plot add graph bar

  ds9 -plot current graph 1

  ds9 -plot delete graph

  ds9 -plot current dataset 1

  ds9 -plot delete dataset

  ds9 -plot duplicate

  ds9 -plot stats yes

  ds9 -plot list yes

  ds9 -plot backup foo.bck

  ds9 -plot restore foo.bck

  ds9 -plot pagesetup orient portrait

  ds9 -plot pagesetup size letter

  ds9 -plot print

  ds9 -plot print destination file

  ds9 -plot print command lp

  ds9 -plot print filename foo.ps

  ds9 -plot print color rgb

  ds9 -plot close

  ds9 -plot mode pointer

   \# export plot

  ds9 -plot export tiff foo.tiff jpeg

  ds9 -plot export jpeg foo.jpeg 75

  ds9 -plot export png foo.png

   \# configure graph

  ds9 -plot axis x grid yes

  ds9 -plot axis x log yes

  ds9 -plot axis x flip yes

  ds9 -plot axis x auto no

  ds9 -plot axis x min 1

  ds9 -plot axis x max 100

  ds9 -plot axis x format '%f'

  ds9 -plot background white

  ds9 -plot legend yes

  ds9 -plot legend position left

  ds9 -plot font numbers font times

  ds9 -plot font numbers size 12

  ds9 -plot font numbers weight bold

  ds9 -plot font numbers slant italic

  ds9 -plot title 'This is a Title'

  ds9 -plot title x 'X Axis'

  ds9 -plot title y 'Y Axis'

  ds9 -plot title legend 'This is the Legend'

   \# configure current dataset

  ds9 -plot show yes

  ds9 -plot name 'My Data'

   \# line dataset

  ds9 -plot line smooth step

  ds9 -plot line color red

  ds9 -plot line width 2

  ds9 -plot line dash yes

  ds9 -plot line fill no

  ds9 -plot line fill color red

  ds9 -plot line shape symbol circle

  ds9 -plot line shape size 5

  ds9 -plot line shape color cyan

  ds9 -plot line shape fill no

   \# bar dataset

  ds9 -plot bar border color red

  ds9 -plot bar border width 2

  ds9 -plot bar fill no

  ds9 -plot bar color red

  ds9 -plot bar width 10

  ds9 -plot error yes

  ds9 -plot error color red

  ds9 -plot error cap yes

  ds9 -plot error width 2

  ppnngg Load PNG image into current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-png \<filename\>

  **Example:**

  ds9 png foo.png

  $cat foo.png \|  ds9 -png - ppoorrtt Set the IRAF port number,  used by IRAF to communicate with DS9. The default is 5137,  the standard IRAF port used by ximtool.

  **Syntax**

  \-port number

  **Example:**

  ds9 -port 5137

  ppoorrtt\_\_oonnllyy iinneett\_\_oonnllyy Only use the IRAF port number. This is the same as -fifo none -unix none.

  **Syntax**

  \-port\_only

  **Example:**

  ds9 -port\_only

  ppooww Select power scale function for the current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-pow

  **Example:**

  ds9 -pow

  pprreeffss Controls various preference settings.

  **Syntax**

  \-prefs \[open\] \
    \[save\] \
    \[clear\] \
    \[close\] \
    \[bg color yes\| no\] \
    \[bg color \<color\> \] \
    \[nan color \<color\> \] \
    \[precision \<linear\>  \<degree\>  \<hms\>  \<dms\>  \<len linear\>  \<len degree\>  \<len arcmin\>  \<len arcsec\>  \<angle\> \] \
    \[theme \<theme\> \] \
    \[threads \<numeric\> \] \
    \[irafalign yes\| no\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -prefs open

  ds9 -prefs save

  ds9 -prefs clear

  ds9 -prefs close

  ds9 -prefs bg color no

  ds9 -prefs bg color red

  ds9 -prefs nan color blue

  ds9 -prefs precision 8 7 4 3 8 7 5 3 8

  ds9 -prefs theme radiance

  ds9 -prefs threads 8

  ds9 -prefs iraf yes

  pprreesseerrvvee Preserve the follow attributes while loading a new image.

  **Syntax**

  - **-preserve**

    \[pan yes\| no\] \
      \[regions yes\| no\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -preserve pan yes

  ds9 -preserve regions yes

  ppsspprriinntt Invokes postscript printing. Please see \_p\_r\_i\_n\_t for further details. pprriinntt Controls printing. Use print option to set printing options.

  **Syntax**

  \-print \[destination printer\| file\] \
    \[command \<command\> \] \
    \[filename \<filename\> \] \
    \[color rgb\| cmyk\| gray\] \
    \[level 1\| 2\| 3\] \
    \[resolution72\| screen\| 96\| 144\| 150\| 225\| 300\| 600\| 1200\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -print

  ds9 -print destination file

  ds9 -print command lp

  ds9 -print filename foo.ps

  ds9 -print color cmyk

  ds9 -print level 2

  ds9 -print resolution 96

  pprriissmm Invoke FITS analysis tool.

  **Syntax**

  \-prism\
    \[open\] \
    \[\<filename\> \] \
    \[load \<filename\> \] \
    \[import xml\| rdb\| tsv \<filename\> \] \
    \[export xml\| rdb\| tsv \<filename\> \] \
    \[clear\] \
    \[current \<ref\> \] \
    \[ext \<int\> \| \<extname\> \] \
    \[first\| next\| prev\| last\] \
    \[goto \<int\> \] \
    \[image\] \
    \[mode newplot\| newgraph\| overplot\] \
    \[histogram \<col\>  \<numbins\>  \[\<min\>  \<max\> \] \] \
    \[plot \<colx\>  \<coly\>  \[\<colerrx\> \]  \[\<colerry\> \]  xy\| xyex\| xyey\| xyexey\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -prism

  ds9 -prism open

  ds9 -prism foo.fits

  ds9 -prism load bar.fits

  ds9 -prism import tsv bar.tsv

  ds9 -prism clear

  ds9 -prism current prism2

  ds9 -prism ext 2

  ds9 -prism ext STDEVT

  ds9 -prism first

  ds9 -prism next

  ds9 -prism goto 20345

  ds9 -prism image

  ds9 -prism mode newplot

  ds9 -prism histogram RAWX 40

  ds9 -prism histogram RAWX 40 0 100

  ds9 -prism plot RAWX RAWY xy

  ds9 -prism plot RAWX RAWY PHA xyex

  ds9 -prism plot RAWX RAWY PHA PHI xyexey

  rraaiissee Raise in the window stacking order.

  **Syntax**

  \-raise

  **Example:**

  ds9 -raise

  rreeggiioonn Controls regions in the current frame.

  **Syntax**

  \-region \[\<filename\> \] \
    \[load \[all\]  \<filename\> \] \
    \[save \[select\]  \<filename\> \] \
    \[list \[close\| select\] \] \
    \[epsilon \<integer\> \] \
    \[show yes\| no\] \
    \[showtext yes\| no\] \
    \[centroid\] \
    \[centroid auto yes\| no\] \
    \[centroid radius \<value\> \| iteration \<value\> \] \
    \[move front\| back\] \
    \[select all\| none\| all\| front\| back\] \
    \[delete \[select\] \] \
    \[delete load \<filename\> \] \
    \[format ds9\| xml\| ciao\| saotng\| saoimage\| pros\| xy\] \
    \[system image\| physical\| wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\] \
    \[sky fk4\| fk5\| icrs\| galactic\| ecliptic\] \
    \[skyformat degrees\| sexagesimal\] \
    \[strip yes\| no\] \
    \[shape \<shape\> \] \
    \[color \<color\> \] \
    \[fill yes\| no\] ;\
    \[width \<width\> \] \
    \[dash yes\| no\] \
    \[font times\| helvetica\| courier\] \
    \[fontsize \<value\> \] \
    \[fontweight normal\| bold\] \
    \[fontslant roman\| italic\] \
    \[fixed\| edit\| rotate\| delete yes\| no\] \
    \[include\| exclude\| source\| background\] \
    \[command \<marker command\> \] \
    \[analysis histogram\| panda\| plot2d\| plot3d\| radial\| stats \[open\| close\| save\] \] \
    \[composite\] \
    \[dissolve\] \
    \[template \<filename\> \] \
    \[template \<filename\>  at \<ra\>  \<dec\>  \<coordsys\>  \<skyframe\> \] \
    \[savetemplate \<filename\> \] \
    \[group new\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  new\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  update\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  select\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  color \<color\> \] \
    \[group \<tag\>  copy\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  delete\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  cut\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  font \<font\> \] \
    \[group \<tag\>  move \<int\>  \<int\> \] \
    \[group \<tag\>  movefront\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  moveback\] \
    \[group \<tag\>  property \<property\>  yes\| no\] \
    \[copy\] \
    \[cut\] \
    \[paste image\| physical\| wcs\| wcsa...wcsz\] \
    \[undo\] \
    \[open\| close\]

  **Example:**

  ds9 -region foo.reg

  ds9 -region -format ciao bar.reg # load as ciao format

  ds9 -region foo.fits # FITS region files do not need a format specification

  ds9 -region load foo.reg # load foo.reg into current frame

  ds9 -region load all foo.reg # load foo.reg into all frames

  ds9 -region load '\*.reg'# expand \*.reg and load into current frame

  ds9 -region load all '\*.reg' # expand \*.reg and load into all frames

  ds9 -region save foo.reg

  ds9 -region save select foo.reg

  ds9 -region list

  ds9 -region list select

  ds9 -region list close

  ds9 -region epsilon 5

  ds9 -region show yes

  ds9 -region showtext no

  ds9 -region centroid

  ds9 -region centroid auto yes

  ds9 -region centroid radius 10

  ds9 -region centroid iteration 20

  ds9 -region move back

  ds9 -region move front

  ds9 -region select all

  ds9 -region select none

  ds9 -region select invert

  ds9 -region select front

  ds9 -region select back

  ds9 -region delete

  ds9 -region delete select

  ds9 -region delete load foo.reg

  ds9 -region format ds9

  ds9 -region system wcs

  ds9 -region sky fk5

  ds9 -region skyformat degrees

  ds9 -region strip yes

  ds9 -region shape ellipse

  ds9 -region color red

  ds9 -region fill yes

  ds9 -region width 3

  ds9 -region dash yes

  ds9 -region font times

  ds9 -region fontsize 24

  ds9 -region fontweight bold

  ds9 -region fontslant italic

  ds9 -region edit yes

  ds9 -region include

  ds9 -region command "circle 100 100 20 # color=red"

  ds9 -region analysis stats $ds9 -region analysis stats close $ds9 -region

## FILES

The complete text of the DS9 manual may be found on Debian systems at /usr/share/doc/saods9/ref/.

## AUTHOR

DS9 is a product of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

This manual page was generated from the DS9 HTML documentation by a script written by Justin Pryzby and Ole Streicher.

## SEE ALSO

[*xpaget*(1)](/xpaget/1.md), [*xpaset*(1)](/xpaset/1.md), [*xpaaccess*(1)](/xpaaccess/1.md), [*xpamb*(1)](/xpamb/1.md), [*xpainfo*(1)](/xpainfo/1.md), [*xpans*(1)](/xpans/1.md), [*xpachanges*(7)](/xpachanges/7.md),