pix2xxx, ang2xxx, vec2xxx, nest2ring, ring2nest

These routines provide conversion between pixel number in the HEALPix map and $(\theta,\phi)$ or (x,y,z) coordinates on the sphere. Some of these routines are listed here.

Location in HEALPix directory tree: src/idl/toolkit/ 

QUALIFIERS

name (dim.)	type	in/out	description
nside	scalar integer	IN	Nside parameter for the HEALPix map.
ipnest(n)	vector integer	—	pixel identification number in NESTED scheme over the range {0, Npix-1}.
ipring(n)	vector integer	—	pixel identification number in RING scheme over the range {0, Npix-1}.
theta(n)	vector double	—	colatitude in radians measured southward from north pole in {0,$\pi$}
phi(n)	vector double	—	longitude in radians, measured eastward in {0,$2\pi$}.
vector(n,3)	array double	—	three dimensional cartesian position vector (x,y,z). The north pole is (0,0,1). An output vector is normalised to unity. The coordinates are ordered as follows $x(0),\ldots,x(n-1),$ $y(0),\ldots,y(n-1),$ $z(0),\ldots,z(n-1).$
vertex(n,3,4)	array double	optional OUT	three dimensional cartesian position vector (x,y,z). Contains the location of the four vertices (=corners) of a pixel in the order North, West, South, East. The coordinates are ordered as follows $x_N(0),\ldots,x_N(n-1),$ $y_N(0),\ldots,y_N(n-1),$ $z_N(0),\ldots,z_N(n-1),$ $x_W(0),\ldots,x_W(n-1),$ $y_W(0),\ldots,y_W(n-1),$ $z_W(0),\ldots,z_W(n-1),$ and so on with South and East vertices

ROUTINES:

pix2ang_ring, nside, ipring, theta, phi

renders theta and phi coordinates of the nominal pixel center given the pixel number ipring and a map resolution parameter nside.

pix2vec_ring, nside, ipring, vector [,vertex]

renders cartesian vector coordinates of the nominal pixel center given the pixel number ipring and a map resolution parameter nside. Optionally returns the location of the 4 vertices for the pixel(s) under consideration

ang2pix_ring, nside, theta, phi, ipring

renders the pixel number ipring for a pixel which, given the map resolution parameter nside, contains the point on the sphere at angular coordinates theta and phi.

vec2pix_ring, nside, vector, ipring

renders the pixel number ipring for a pixel which, given the map resolution parameter nside, contains the point on the sphere at cartesian coordinates vector.

pix2ang_nest, nside, ipnest, theta, phi

renders theta and phi coordinates of the nominal pixel center given the pixel number ipnest and a map resolution parameter nside.

pix2vec_nest, nside, ipnest, vector [,vertex]

renders cartesian vector coordinates of the nominal pixel center given the pixel number ipnest and a map resolution parameter nside. Optionally returns the location of the 4 vertices for the pixel(s) under consideration

ang2pix_nest, nside, theta, phi, ipnest

renders the pixel number ipnest for a pixel which, given the map resolution parameter nside, contains the point on the sphere at angular coordinates theta and phi.

vec2pix_nest, nside, vector, ipnest

renders the pixel number ipnest for a pixel which, given the map resolution parameter nside, contains the point on the sphere at cartesian coordinates vector.

nest2ring, nside, ipnest, ipring

performs conversion from NESTED to RING pixel number.

ring2nest, nside, ipring, ipnest

performs conversion from RING to NESTED pixel number.

RELATED ROUTINES

This section lists the routines related to pix2xxx, ang2xxx, vec2xxx, nest2ring, ring2nest

idl

version 6.4 or more is necessary to run pix2xxx, ang2xxx,... .

npix2nside

computes N_side (resolution) corresponding to Npix (total pixel number)

nside2npix

computes N_pix corresponding to N_side

ang2vec, vec2ang

geometrical conversion between position angles and position vector

nest2uniq, uniq2nest

conversion of standard pixel index to/from Unique ID number

EXAMPLE:

pix2ang_ring, 256, [17,1000], theta, phi
print,theta,phi

returns
0.0095683558 0.070182078
2.8797933 5.4620872
position of the two pixels #17 and 1000 in the RING scheme with parameter N_side=256.