Mapping on the HEALPix grid

Abstract

The natural spherical projection associated with the Hierarchical Equal Area and isoLatitude Pixelisation, HEALPix, is described and shown to be one of an infinite class not previously documented in the cartographic literature. Projection equations are derived for the class in general and it is shown that the HEALPix projection suggests a simple method (a) of storing, and (b) visualising data sampled on the grid of the HEALPix pixelisation, and also suggests an extension of the pixelisation that is better suited for these purposes. Potentially useful properties of other members of the class are described. Finally, the formalism is defined for representing any member of the class in the FITS data format.