Command Line Options

DS9 will process each command line option, one at a time, as the last step in the initialization process. Therefore, it is possible to use command line options as a little script. For example, the following command line option is used:

$ds9 -tile foo.fits -cmap Heat -zscale bar.fits -cmap I8

First DS9 is put in tile mode, then foo.fits is loaded. Then the colormap for foo.fits is changed to Heat. Next, a new frame is created and bar.fits is loaded. And finally, the colormap for bar.fits is changed to I8.

2mass

Support for 2MASS Digital Sky Survey. The first three options will download an image based on the name or specified fk5 coordinate. The remaining options are used to configure downloads.

Syntax:
-2mass [<object>]
       [name <object>]
       [coord <ra> <dec>] # in wcs fk5
       [survey j|h|k]

       [size <radius>] # in arcsec

Example:
$ds9 -2mass m31

$ds9 -2mass name m31

$ds9 -2mass coord 00:42:44.404 +41:16:08.78

$ds9 -2mass survey j

$ds9 -2mass size 600

blue

For RGB frames, sets the current color channel to blue.
Syntax:
-blue
Example:
$ds9 -blue foo.fits

catalog

Support for catalogs.
Syntax:
-catalog [cds sao|hst|gsc|tycho|ac|ua2|ub1|ucac2|2mass|denis|rosat|rosf|first]
       
[cds <catalogid>]
       
[load <filename>]

        [<catname>] [name <object>]
        [<catname>] [coordinate <ra> <dec> <coordinate system>]
        [<catname>] [size <width> <height> degrees|arcmin|arcsec]

        [<catname>] [save <filename>]
       
[<catname>] [filter <string>]
       
[<catname>] [filter load <filename>]
       
[<catname>] [clear]
       
[<catname>] [retreive]
       
[<catname>] [cancel]
       
[<catname>] [print]
       
[<catname>] [close]

       
[<catname>] [server cds|sao|cadc|adac|iucaa|bejing|cambridge|ukirt]
       
[<catname>] [symbol shape {circle point}|{box point}|{diamond point}|
                    {cross point}|{x point}|{arrow point}|{boxcircle point}|
                    circle|ellipse|box|text]
       
[<catname>] [symbol color <colorname>]
       
[<catname>] [symbol load <filename>]
       
[<catname>] [sort <columnname> incr|decr]
       
[<catname>] [maxrows <number>]
       
[<catname>] [allcols]

Example:
$ds9 -catalog cds 2mass
$ds9 -catalog cds "I/252"
$ds9 -catalog load foo.cat

$ds9 -catalog cat2mass symbol color red

$ds9 -catalog name m51
$ds9 -catalog coordinate 202.48 47.21 fk5
$ds9 -catalog size 22 22 arcmin
$ds9 -catalog save bar.cat
$ds9 -catalog filter "\$Jmag>10"
$ds9 -catalog filter load foo.flt
$ds9 -catalog clear
$ds9 -catalog retreive
$ds9 -catalog cancel
$ds9 -catalog print
$ds9 -catalog close
$ds9 -catalog server sao
$ds9 -catalog symbol shape "{boxcircle point}"
$ds9 -catalog symbol color red
$ds9 -catalog symbol load foo.sym
$ds9 -catalog sort "Jmag" incr
$ds9 -catalog maxrows 2000
$ds9 -catalog allcols

crosshair

Controls the current position of the crosshair in the current frame. DS9 is placed in crosshair mode when the crosshair is set.
Syntax:
-crosshair [x y <coordinate system> [<sky frame>][<sky format>]]
Example:
$ds9 -crosshair 100 100 physical # set crosshair in physical
$ds9 -crosshair 345 58.8 wcs fk5 # set crosshair in wcs coords
$ds9 -crosshair 23:01:00 +58:52:51 wcs fk5

datacube

Controls FITS datacube.
Syntax:
-datacube [play|stop|next|prev|first|last]
          [#]
          [interval #]
Example:
$ds9 -datacube play
$ds9 -datacube last
$ds9 -datacube 3
$ds9 -datacube interval 2

dss

Support for Digital Sky Survey. The first three options will download an image based on the name or specified fk5 coordinate. The remaining options are used to configure downloads.