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The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has played an important role in endorsing and maintaining the FITS (Flexible Image Transport System) data format for the benefit of the entire astronomical community. In 1982, just three years after the FITS format was created, the IAU adopted Resolution C1, recommending that all astronomical computer facilities recognize and support FITS for the interchange of data. Then in 1988, the IAU adopted Resolution B2, creating an IAU FITS Working Group (IAUFWG) to maintain the existing FITS standards and to review, approve and maintain future extensions to FITS.

Up until 2015, The IAUFWG served under Commission 5 (Documentation and Astronomical Data) which in turn served under Division B Facilities, Technologies and Data Science of the IAU. After the 2015 reorganization of the IAU scientific bodies, the IAUFWG has continued to function as a working group within the new Commission B2, Data and Documentation. There have been preliminary discussions about creating a new expanded "Data Representations" working group under Commission B2 that would focus on more modern alternatives to the FITS format, but as of early 2021 no firm decisions have been made. Regardless, it is widely recognized that because of the important role that the FITS format plays within the astronomical community it is vital that the IAU retains a strong FITS governance structure for the indefinite future, perhaps as a subcommittee of whatever new data working group that might be formed.

Members of the IAUFWG are chosen to represent the interests of both ground and space-based astronomy and the different wavelength bands which astronomers observe. Members are also chosen to try to provide representation for various regions of the World, major astronomical data centers, major astronomical software packages, and the historical traditions of FITS.

The IAUFWG follows a formal approval process for any modifications to the FITS format to assure that the changes are carefully considered by the entire worldwide FITS community and that minority interests are not ignored. The following links describe the structure of the IAUFWG as of 2015. This is subject to change pending the possible reorganization of the working groups under the IAU Commission B2.

IAU FITS Working Group Members

Members with an asterisk (*) are part of the executive committee.

Chair

Lucio Chiappetti, INAF (Italian National Institute for Astrophysics)
IASF (Istituto Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica cosmica) Milano, Via Bassini 15, IT 20133 Milano, Italy
Email: lucio@lambrate.inaf.it

North American Members

NameYear AppointedInstitutionAreas of Expertise
Steve Allen2003University of Central Oklahoma/Lick ObservatoryOptical, Mosaicing, WCS (World Coordinate Systems)
Daniel Durand2003CADC (Canadian Astronomy Data Centre), CanadaOptical, CFHT (Canada France Hawaii Telescope), HST (Hubble Space Telescope)
Eric Greisen1988NRAO (National Radio Astronomy Observatory)FITS History, AIPS (Astronomical Image Processing System), Radio, WCS
*Bob Hanisch1988STScI (Space Telescope Science Institute)Virtual observatory, WGAS Chairman
*Bill Pence1993HEASARC (High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center), GSFC (Goddard Space Flight Center)(Former-Chair, 2003-2012) CFITSIO, X-ray
*Arnold Rots2002SAO (Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory)(Former Chair of N. American FITS committee) Chandra, X-ray, Timing
Dick Shaw2003NOAO (National Optical Astronomy Observatory)UV/Optical, Spectroscopy, Imaging, LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope)
Elizabeth Stobie2003NOAOOptical, IR (infrared), data management
William Thompson2003GSFCSolar, SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory)
Doug Tody1988NOAOVirtual observatory, WCS, IRAF (Image Reduction and Analysis Facility)

European Members

NameYear AppointedInstitutionAreas of Expertise
*Lucio Chiappetti2003IASF Milano, It.(Chairman) X-ray, XMM (X-ray Multi-Mirror), BeppoSAX (Beppo Satellite for X-ray Astronomy), databases
Malcolm Currie2009RAL (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory), U.K.Optical/IR imaging & spectroscopy
*Adam Dobrzycki2010ESO (European Southern Observatory), Germany(Former Chair of European FITS committee) QSOs (Quasi-Stellar Objects), computational astronomy
Thierry Forveille2003GrenobleOptical/IR, Radio
Carlos Gabriel2005ESA (European Space Agency)/ESAC (European Space Astronomy Centre), SpainX-ray, XMM Science Operations
Preben Grosbol1988ESO, Germany(Former-chair, 1988-1994; Former-Chair of the European FITS committee) FITS History, VLT (Very Large Telescope)
Walter Jaffe2003Leiden, NetherlandsRadio, IR interferometry
Francois Ochsenbein1988CDS (Strasbourg astronomical Data Center), FranceVizier, SIMBAD (Set of Identifications, Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data), VOTable
Zhelenkova, Olga2009Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia-

Japanese Members

NameYear AppointedInstitutionAreas of Expertise
*Osamu Kanamitsu1995Fukuoka University of Education(Former Chair of the Japanese FITS committee) Optical

Australian Members

NameYear AppointedInstitutionAreas of Expertise
*Mark Calabretta2003ATNF (Australia Telescope National Facility)/CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation)(Former Chair of the Australia/New Zealand FITS committee) Radio, WCS
Andreas Wicenec2003ICRAR (The International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research), PerthALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array), radio, AVO (Astrophysical Virtual Observatory)

Previous Members

  • Perry Greenfield (tenure 2009-2015)
  • Bill Cotton, NRAO (tenure 1988-2003)
  • John Glaspey, NOAO (tenure 1988-2003)
  • Don Jennings, NOST (NASA/Science Office of Standards and Technology) (tenure 2000-2000)
  • Oleg Malkov, Moscow (tenure 2003-2009)
  • Shiro Nishimura, Japan (tenure 1988-1995)
  • Clive Page, UK (tenure 2003-2009)
  • Bruce Peterson, MSO (Mount Stromlo Observatory) (tenure 1988-2003)
  • Anatoly Piskunov, Russia (tenure 1988-2000)
  • Ernst Raimond, Netherlands (tenure 1988-2003) Former-vice-chair: 1994-2003
  • Barry Schlesinger, NOST (tenure 1988-1999)
  • Peter Teuben, University of Maryland (tenure 1995-2002) Former-Chair of North American FITS Committee
  • Pat Wallace, UK (tenure 1988-2005)
  • Wayne Warren, GSFC (tenure 1988-2003)
  • Don Wells, NRAO (tenure 1988-2009) Former-chair, 1994-2003; Former-vicechair, 1988-1994 

IAU FITS Working Group Rules

For more information about the IAU FITS Working Group rules and procedures, read the Working Group Rules page.

Regional FITS Committees

The regional committees provide advice to the IAUFITS Working Group on matters related to the FITS data format.

Australia and New Zealand Regional FITS Committee

  •  Jeremy Bailey, Macquarie University
  • David Barnes, University of Melbourne
  • Wim Brouw, Kapteyn Astronomical Institute of Groningen University, and ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy) in Dwingeloo (Netherlands, formerly ATNF)
  • Mark Calabretta, ATNF
  • Aidan Hotan, Swinburne University
  • Brian Schmidt, Mt. Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatory
  • Denis Sullivan, Victoria University of Wellington (VUW)
  • Michael Reid, Wellington, New Zealand

European Regional FITS Committee

  • David Berry, Joint Astronomy Centre, Hawaii
  • Nicola Caon, Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias
  • Jean-Pierre De Cuyper, Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels (ROB)
  • Adam Dobrzycki (chair) ESO, Garching
  • Preben Grosbol (ex-chair) ESO, Garching
  • Frank Haberl, Max-Planck-Institut, Garching, Germany (MPG)
  • Peter Kalberla, Radioastronomisches Institut, Bonn        
  • Sergey Karpov, Special Astrophysical Observatory, Russia
  • Peter Linde, Lund Observatory, Sweden
  • Francois Ochsenbein, Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS)
  • Tom Oosterloo, ASTRON, Netherlands Foundation for Research in Astronomy
  • Pedro Osuna, ESAC/ESA, VILSPA (Villafranca Station), Spain
  • Yurij Pakhomov, Institute of Astronomy, Moscow
  • Fabio Pasian, Osservatorio Astronomico di Trieste (OAT), Italy

Japanese Regional FITS Committee

  • Osamu Kanamitsu, Fukuoka University of Education, Optical (Chair)
  • Shigeomi Yoshida,  Chiba Institute of Science, Optical (Vice-chair)
  • Kazuhisa Mitsuda,  JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), X-ray (Vice-chair)
  • Takao Nakagawa,    JAXA, Infrared
  • Toshifumi Shimizu, JAXA, Optical, Solar
  • Yasuhiro Murata,   JAXA, VSOP (Very-long-baseline interferometry Space Observatory Program) (Radio)
  • Tadafumi Takata,   NAOJ (National Astronomical Observatory Japan) ADAC (Astronomical Data Analysis Center), Optical
  • Koh-ichiro Morita, NAOJ NRAO (Nobeyama Radio Astronomical Observatory), Radio, Space
  • Yoichiro Hanaoka,  NAOJ NRAO, Radio, Solar
  • Kenshi Yagagisawa, NAOJ OAO (Okayama Astronomical Observatory), Optical
  • Takashi Miyata,    University of Tokyo, Kiso Observatory, Optical

North American Regional FITS Committee

Non-voting members are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  • Steve Allen (Lick)
  • Colin Aspin (Gemini)
  • Daniel Durand (CADC)
  • Allen Farris (NRAO)
  • Eric Greisen (NRAO)
  • * Bob Hanisch (STScI)
  • Arne Henden (American Association of Variable Star Observers)
  • * Bob Kibrick (Lick)
  • Jonathan McDowell (Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA))
  • Bob Narron (IPAC)
  • William Pence (NASA/GSFC)
  • Arnold Rots (CfA)
  • Skip Schaller (Las Campanas)
  • Rob Seaman (NOAO)
  • Peter Teuben (University of Maryland)
  • Randy Thompson (STScI)
  • Doug Tody (NRAO)
  • Steve Walton (California State University)
  • * Don Wells (retired NRAO)

Past Members

  • Bob Kibrick
  • William Lupton
  • Eric Mandel
  • Jeffrey Percival
  • Archibald Warnock

WGAS FITS Committee

The regional FITS committee for North America is under the Working Group for Astronomical Software (WGAS) of the American Astronomical Society (AAS); the current Chair of WGAS is Bob Hanisch (STScI). The current Chair of the WGAS FITS Committee (WFC) is Peter Teuben (University of Maryland). The membership of the WFC has been chosen to represent the various disciplines of astronomy in North America, both ground- and space-based, at all observed frequencies, as represented in the membership of the AAS.

The WFC conducts almost all of its business by Email, using a special Email exploder.