What is a .VICAR file?
The .VICAR file extension stands for a VICAR Image File, which is a special kind of picture file. This file format was created by a group of scientists and engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The main purpose of this file format is to store pictures taken by NASA's spacecraft during their missions. These aren't just ordinary pictures; they include detailed information about the space missions and the scientific data captured in the images. Additionally, these files keep a record of any changes or processing that has been done to the image, making sure all the modifications are well-documented.
When you open a .VICAR file, you'll notice it's divided into two main sections. The first part is called "labels." Think of labels like the title page and table of contents of a book. They give you an overview of what the file contains, including details about the image and the data it holds. These labels are found at the beginning and the end of the file. The second part is the "image area," which is like the main chapters of the book where the actual content lies. This area contains the image itself, captured from space.
VICAR, which stands for Video Image Communication and Retrieval, is more than just a file format. It's also the name of the software system used to handle these files. This system was developed way back in 1966, mainly to deal with images from NASA's unmanned space missions. Over the years, its use has expanded beyond space exploration. Now, it's also used in fields like medicine, for processing biomedical images, and in geology, for exploring the Earth's surface.
To view or work with .VICAR files, you can use a program called XnView. This software allows you to open and view the images stored in .VICAR files. It's helpful for anyone interested in seeing the detailed images captured during NASA's space missions or for professionals who need to analyze the scientific data contained within these files.
Interestingly, the core software for VICAR has been made open source and is available on GitHub. This means that anyone interested in how the software works, or who wants to contribute to its development, can access the source code freely. This openness encourages collaboration and innovation, allowing the software to be used and improved by a wide community of users and developers.
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