pyfits

Installing pyfits 2.1.1 is rather simple.

1. Install: $ python setup.py install –prefix=$EXTDIR

Here is a block quote version for easier cut/pasting:
python setup.py install --prefix=$EXTDIR

Updated (2009-10-2):
Below is no longer needed:

Below not needed for OSX
Finally you will need to edit $EXTDIR/lib/python2.6/site-packages/pyfits/NP_pyfits.py. This is to make it compliant with Python 2.6
NP_pyfits.py:73 should read:

def showwarning(message, category, filename, lineno, file=None,line=None):

NP_pyfits.py:76 should read:

_showwarning(message, category, filename, lineno, file,line)

NP_pyfits.py:78 should read:

def formatwarning(message, category, filename, lineno,line=None):


Direct dependencies:
python
cfitsio