<p>Go to the <a href="http://www.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/saa/products/user_preferences" rel="noreferrer">user preferences</a>.  From there you will be able to choose different formats and data options.  If you choose netCDF, you will be able to read these filetypes with most map readers.  For Python, you can use netCDF4-python.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T20:41:37.900Z
In addition, for Python, I would recommend [`xarray`](http://xarray.pydata.org) for reading geophysical data from NetCDF files.
gerrit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-14T11:02:30.960Z
@gansub I don't know about satpy.
gerrit
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-14T13:16:28.717Z
@gansub Good.  There's also pytroll that understands a lot of file formats.
gerrit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-28T16:53:25.450Z
2015-08-05T07:55:38.627Z
2015-08-05T07:55:38.627Z
scottlittle
<p>The same as scottlittle, but you can use also McIdas V. It also can read nedcdf files and also is a free software.
<a href="http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/mcidas/software/v/documentation.html" rel="noreferrer">http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/mcidas/software/v/documentation.html</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-03-21T18:01:22.350Z
2017-03-21T18:01:22.350Z
J. Chira
<p>I requested satellite image data (GVAR_IMG) for a project that I am working on from the GOES satellite, but I don't know what format it's in or how to read it.  When I open it with a text editor it is hexadecimal.  The files are end in .BAND_01, .BAND_02, etc.  <a href="http://www.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/saa/products/welcome">The website that I requested the data</a> from said that the data is available in different formats: "Data distribution formats available are raw, AREA, NetCDF, GIF, and JPEG." However, I do not see the option for selecting different formats.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-28T13:39:33.087Z
The "shopping cart" screen you ordered the data from has selections for what format data you want.  What did you select?
casey
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-07-29T11:13:59.083Z
Given the OP's own answer, the question title should be about choosing file formats rather than reading files, no?
Deditos
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-08-05T07:56:13.780Z
I added a little bit about how I read in the file for completeness.
scottlittle
<software><data-formats>
How to read NOAA/NASA GOES satellite data?
scottlittle
# How to read NOAA/NASA GOES satellite data?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-07-27)

I requested satellite image data (GVAR\_IMG) for a project that I am working on from the GOES satellite, but I don't know what format it's in or how to read it. When I open it with a text editor it is hexadecimal. The files are end in .BAND\_01, .BAND\_02, etc. [The website that I requested the data](http://www.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/saa/products/welcome) from said that the data is available in different formats: "Data distribution formats available are raw, AREA, NetCDF, GIF, and JPEG." However, I do not see the option for selecting different formats.

**Tags:** software, data-formats

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: The "shopping cart" screen you ordered the data from has selections for what format data you want.  What did you select?  
> **username_2**: Given the OP's own answer, the question title should be about choosing file formats rather than reading files, no?  
> **username_0**: I added a little bit about how I read in the file for completeness.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2015-07-28. Score: 6

Go to the [user preferences](http://www.class.ngdc.noaa.gov/saa/products/user_preferences). From there you will be able to choose different formats and data options. If you choose netCDF, you will be able to read these filetypes with most map readers. For Python, you can use netCDF4-python.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: In addition, for Python, I would recommend [`xarray`](http://xarray.pydata.org) for reading geophysical data from NetCDF files.  
> **username_3**: @gansub I don't know about satpy.  
> **username_3**: @gansub Good.  There's also pytroll that understands a lot of file formats.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-03-21. Score: 4

The same as username_0, but you can use also McIdas V. It also can read nedcdf files and also is a free software.
<http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/mcidas/software/v/documentation.html>


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