---
name: "source-extractor"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "source-extractor"
version: "2.28.2+ds-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/source-extractor"
---

# source-extractor(1)

extract a source catalogue from an astronomical FITS image

## NAME

source-extractor - extract a source catalogue from an astronomical FITS image

## SYNOPSIS

**source-extractor *image* \[*-c configuration-file*\]**

\[*-parameter1 value1 -parameter2 value2 ...*\]

- **source-extractor *image\_detect* *image\_measure* \[*-c configuration-file*\]**

  \[*-parameter1 value1 -parameter2 value2 ...*\]

- **source-extractor *-d***

  ## DESCRIPTION

SExtractor is a program that builds a catalogue of objects from an astronomical image. Although it is particularly oriented towards reduction of large scale galaxy-survey data, it performs rather well on moderately crowded star fields.

See http://astromatic.net/software/sextractor for more details.

### Operation modes:

- **-h**, **--help**

  print this help, then exit

- **-V**, **--version**

  print version number, then exit

- **-d**, **--dump**

  dump a default configuration file

## MANUAL

The full documentation for **SExtractor** is maintained as a PDF manual available at **http://astromatic.net/software/sextractor**

## REPORTING BUGS

Please report bugs to the SExtractor software forum at http://astromatic.net/forum.

## SEE ALSO

[missfits(1)](/missfits/1.md), [psfex(1)](/psfex/1.md), [scamp(1)](/scamp/1.md), sky(1), [stiff(1)](/stiff/1.md), stuff(1), swarp (1), [weightwatcher(1)](/weightwatcher/1.md)

## AUTHORS

Written by Emmanuel Bertin (Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris)

## LICENSE

SExtractor is licensed under the terms of the General Public License (GPL), version 3.

## COPYRIGHT

This is free software; see the source for copying conditions.  There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.