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Archive Your FTS File in ZIP Format
Convert and archive your astronomical FTS (FITS) files into the widely supported ZIP archive format for easier storage, transfer, and compatibility.
Quick Access To 3 FTS File Conversion Pairs
What Is This Tool?
This tool enables you to convert FTS (FITS) files, which are specialized astronomical image and data files, into the ZIP archive format. ZIP archives make it easier to bundle, compress, and distribute your FTS files while maintaining their integrity for backup and sharing.
How to Use This Tool?
- Upload your .fts or .fits astronomical image and metadata files to the tool
- Select ZIP as the output archive format
- Optionally add multiple FTS files to bundle into a single ZIP
- Click the convert button to start archiving and compressing your files
- Download the resulting ZIP archive for backup, sharing, or transfer
Key Features
- Converts astronomical FTS image and data files into ZIP archives
- Supports bundling multiple FTS files into one compressed package
- Leverages ZIP’s wide compatibility across operating systems and tools
- Preserves file integrity with lossless ZIP compression methods
- Allows easy distribution and backup of complex observational datasets
Examples
- Archiving multiple telescope observation FITS files into a single ZIP for easy sharing with colleagues.
- Compressing large multi-dimensional astronomical survey data stored as FTS files into a ZIP archive for efficient transfer and storage.
Common Use Cases
- Backing up and compressing raw or calibrated astronomical CCD/IR image datasets
- Packaging FITS files with header and tabular data for cross-platform exchange
- Bundling observational data for analysis pipelines and visualization tools compatibility
- Distributing survey images and associated calibration files in a compressed archive
Tips & Best Practices
- Verify your FITS files with FITS-aware software before archiving to ensure data integrity
- Use ZIP compression to reduce file sizes but be mindful that some FITS files can be large due to uncompressed nature
- Keep original metadata intact by avoiding modifications during archiving
- Leverage ZIP’s central directory for random access extraction of individual files as needed
Limitations
- FTS files require specialized software to fully interpret their multi-dimensional data and metadata
- FITS files are historically uncompressed, so archived ZIP file sizes may remain large unless tile-compressed FITS are used
- ZIP format’s legacy encryption is weak and some of its extensions are not universally supported
- ZIP archives store a central directory at the end, requiring complete downloads before file listings can be accessed
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why convert FTS files to ZIP?
- Converting FTS files to ZIP enables easy bundling, compression, and cross-platform sharing of astronomical image and metadata files.
- Can ZIP compression reduce the size of large FTS files?
- Yes, ZIP can reduce size with lossless compression, but large FTS files may still remain sizable because they are often uncompressed by default.
- Do I need special software to open ZIP archives of FTS files?
- No, ZIP archives can be opened with common tools on most operating systems, but FTS files inside require FITS-aware software for proper analysis.
Key Terminology
- FTS (FITS)
- Flexible Image Transport System, a format for storing and transporting astronomical image arrays and scientific data with metadata.
- ZIP Archive
- A widely supported file format that bundles multiple files and folders with optional lossless compression and metadata.
- Header/Data Unit (HDU)
- A structured segment in FITS files containing metadata headers followed by binary or ASCII data blocks.