[novas0x2a]

If you install CFITSIO[1], you can rebuild GDAL with FITS support. GDAL is the crazy-format swiss army knife. Some caveats[2] apply, though.

1) http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/software/fitsio/fitsio.htm...

2) http://www.gdal.org/frmt_various.html#FITS