Block Menu

To create an image from a FITS Bin Table, the user needs to specify a blocking factor, blocking buffer size, and the block function.

Block Function

Average-- all pixel values that fall into one pixel bin are averaged.

Sum-- all pixel values that fall into one pixel bin are summed.

Block to Fit Frame

Block to Fit Frame will calculate a block factor as a power of 2 that will allow the entire data space to be displayed in the current frame.

Block Factor

A value greater or equal to one. This value indicates the number of pixel values that will fall into a particular bin. Use this as equivalent to a zoom factor, for values greater than one. This way, the user will generated the most accurate representation of the data, given the view point, block factor, block buffer size, and block function.

Block Buffer Size

The overall size of the image generated. This has no relation to min and max values of the columns used to create the image. The image generated is of BLOCK BUFFER SIZE, centered at the current view center.

Block To

Block To allows the user to specify an arbitrary block factor and a point to block about. The block factor does not need to be a power of 2, nor does the point need to be on a boundary.