Merge 3efb992 into 875a4c9

spectral_cube/spectral_cube.py

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 from astropy import units as u
 from astropy.extern import six
-from astropy.io.fits import PrimaryHDU, ImageHDU, Header, Card
+from astropy.io.fits import PrimaryHDU, ImageHDU, Header, Card, HDUList
 from astropy import log
 from astropy import wcs
 
@@ -1716,6 +1716,36 @@ def to_pvextractor(self):
 
         return PVSlicer(self)
 
+    def to_ds9(self, ds9id=None, newframe=False):
+        """
+        Send the data to ds9 (this will create a copy in memory)
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ds9id: None or string
+            The DS9 session ID.  If 'None', a new one will be created.
+            To find your ds9 session ID, open the ds9 menu option
+            File:XPA:Information and look for the XPA_METHOD string, e.g.:
+                XPA_METHOD:	86ab2314:60063
+            You would then calll this function as ``cube.to_ds9('86ab2314:60063')``
+        newframe: bool
+            Send the cube to a new frame or to the current frame?
+        """
+        import ds9
+
+        if ds9id is None:
+            dd = ds9.ds9(start=True)
+        else:
+            dd = ds9.ds9(target=ds9id, start=False)
+
+        if newframe:
+            dd.set('frame new')
+
+        dd.set_pyfits(HDUList(self.hdu))
+
+        return dd
+
+
     @property
     def header(self):
         # Preserve non-WCS information from previous header iteration