def _find_extension(pth):
    """
    Find the first HEALPIX extension in a fits file,
    and return the extension number. Else, raise an IndexError
    """
    for i, hdu in enumerate(pth):
        if hdu.header.get('PIXTYPE') == 'HEALPIX':
            return i
    else:
        raise IndexError('No HEALPIX extensions found in %s' % pth.filename())
