---
name: "wcstools"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "wcstools"
version: "3.9.7-1.1+b1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/wcstools"
---

# wcstools(1)

Programs to access image world coordinate systems and catalogs

## Name

wcstools - Programs to access image world coordinate systems and catalogs

## Setting an Image World Coordinate System

- imwcs

  Automatically find stars in a FITS or IRAF image, match them to HST Guide USNO A, B, UCAC or UJ Stars,  or others, compute the relation between sky coordinates and image coordinates, and write in in the image header. \[after U of Iowa SETWCS\]

- delwcs

  Delete the WCS keywords from an image. If both EPOCH and EQUINOX are present, EQUINOX is also deleted.

## Using an Image World Coordinate System

- imcat

  List catalog sources which should be found in the area of the sky covered by a specific image.

- imsize

  Print center and size of image using WCS keywords in header

- imstar

  Find and list the n brightest stars in an IRAF or FITS image, with their sky coordinates if there is WCS information in the image header.

- sky2xy

  Print image pixel coordinates for given sky coordinates on the command line or in a list file.

- xy2sky

  Print sky coordinates for given image pixel coordinates on the command line or in a list file.

## Catalog Utility Programs

- scat

  Search the HST GSC, USNO-A2.0, or other catalog given a region on the sky.

-

  - skycoor

  Convert between J2000, B1950, and Galactic coordinates from the command line or a file.

## Image Utility Programs

- addpix

  Add a constant value(s) to specified pixel(s)

- edhead

  Edit the header of a FITS file or the user parameters of an IRAF image file using a the text editor specified by the EDITOR environment variable.

- gethead

  Return values for keyword(s) specified after filename.

- getpix

  Return value(s) of specified pixel(s)

- i2f

  Read two-dimensional IRAF image file and write FITS image file

- imhead

  Print FITS or IRAF header

- imrot

  Rotate and/or reflect FITS or IRAF image files

- setpix

  Set specified pixel(s) to specified value(s)

- sethead

  Set header parameters in FITS or IRAF images.

- subpix

  Subtract a constant value(s) from specified pixel(s)

## Author

Jessica Mink, SAO (jmink@cfa.harvard.edu)