psfaddtable

psfaddtable [options] <input_image.fits> <psf_table.fits>

-h, --help
    Displays a help message and exits.

-v, --version
    Prints the version information of the command.

-o <filename>, --output-file=<filename>
    Specifies the name for the output FITS file.

-n <name>, --ext-name=<name>
    Sets the name for the FITS extension containing the PSF table (default is PSF_DATA).

-c, --compress-table
    Compresses the PSF table in the output file using FITS table compression.

-f, --force
    Overwrites the output file if it already exists without prompting.

-p <string>, --prefix=<string>
    Defines a prefix for FITS header keywords related to PSF data (default is PSF).

-t <name>, --table-name=<name>
    Specifies the internal name for the PSF table within the FITS extension (default is PSF_TABLE).

--add-to-ext <number|name>
    Adds the PSF table to a specific existing extension by number or name instead of creating a new primary one.

--comment <string>
    Adds a comment to the output FITS file header.

--history <string>
    Adds a history record to the output FITS file header.

psfaddtable is a command-line utility from the psfex package, designed to integrate Point Spread Function (PSF) model data directly into astronomical FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) files. It takes an input FITS image and a separate FITS table containing PSF model information (typically generated by psfex) and appends this table to the image's header or adds it as a new extension. This is crucial for applications requiring precise photometry and astrometry, as it allows subsequent analysis tools to access the PSF model associated with the image directly.

By embedding the PSF data, psfaddtable streamlines data management and ensures that the PSF model used for analysis is consistent with the image it describes, facilitating tasks like source extraction and deconvolution in astronomy.

This command is part of the psfex software package and is not a standard utility found in most Linux distributions by default. It requires psfex to be installed.

It operates exclusively on FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) files, which are the standard data format in astronomy.

The PSF table input is expected to be in the specific format generated by the psfex program; using tables from other sources might lead to errors or incorrect interpretation.

Adding large PSF tables to images can significantly increase file size.

To add a PSF table my_psf.fits generated by psfex to an image raw_image.fits and save the result as processed_image.fits with a specific extension name:
psfaddtable -o processed_image.fits -n PSF_MODEL_DATA raw_image.fits my_psf.fits

psfaddtable is typically used as a post-processing step after running psfex. It enhances the self-describing nature of FITS files, making them more portable and easier to use in subsequent analyses, especially with tools that expect PSF information to be co-located with the image data.

The psfaddtable utility was developed by Emmanuel Bertin as part of the psfex package. psfex itself emerged from the need for robust and accurate Point Spread Function modeling in astronomical image analysis, particularly for deep survey data. psfaddtable was created to streamline the workflow by allowing the PSF model, crucial for precise photometry and astrometry, to be directly embedded within the image FITS file. This integration simplifies data handling and ensures consistency between images and their associated PSF models in large-scale astronomical pipelines.

psfex(1), sextractor(1), fits(5), funtools(1)