animate_healpix_maps

This Python script takes a set of Healpix maps (in FITS format) and produces an animated .gif file with Mollweide projections of the maps.

Requirements

• Python 3.6 (maybe older versions 3.x will work too?)
• Matplotlib
• NumPy
• Healpy
• Imagemagick or Graphicsmagick

Usage

The tool must be used from the command line. Each FITS file must be preceded by a title, usually enclosed within single/double quotes:

$ animate_healpix_maps.py 'First' 1.fits 'Second' 2.fits

To see a list of available options, use --help.

Example

The following animation has been produced using the maps delivered by the COBE/DMR team for the two 31 GHz channels (download them from here). The command used to produce the .gif file was

$ animate_healpix_maps.py \
    -s 0.75 \
	--pixel-distributions \
    -o dmr_31.gif \
	'DMR(31a)' dmr_31a_imap_4yr.fits \
	'DMR(31b)' dmr_31b_imap_4yr.fits