def sigma_clip(arrin, niter=4, nsig=4, extra={}, verbose=False):
    """
    NAME:
      sigma_clip()
      
    PURPOSE:
      Calculate the mean/stdev of an array with sigma clipping. Iterate
      niter times, removing elements that are outside nsig, and recalculating
      mean/stdev.

    CALLING SEQUENCE:
      mean,stdev = sigma_clip(arr, niter=4, nsig=4, extra={})
    
    INPUTS:
      arr: A numpy array or a sequence that can be converted.

    OPTIONAL INPUTS:
      niter: number of iterations, defaults to 4
      nsig: number of sigma, defaults to 4

    OUTPUTS:
      mean,stdev: A tuple containing mean and standard deviation.
    OPTIONAL OUTPUTS
      extra={}: Dictionary containing the array of used indices in
         extra['index']

    REVISION HISTORY:
      Converted from IDL: 2006-10-23. Erin Sheldon, NYU

   """
    arr = numpy.array(arrin, ndmin=1, copy=False)

    index = numpy.arange( arr.size )

    for i in numpy.arange(niter):
        m = arr[index].mean()
        s = arr[index].std()

        if verbose:
            sys.stdout.write('iter %s\tnuse: %s\tmean %s\tstdev %s\n' % \
                (i+1, index.size,m,s))

        clip = nsig*s

        w, = numpy.where( (numpy.abs(arr[index]) - m) < clip )

        if w.size == 0:
            sys.stderr.write("nsig too small. Everything clipped on iteration %d" % i+1)
            return m,s


        index = index[w]

    # Calculate final stats
    amean = arr[index].mean()
    asig = arr[index].std()

    extra['index'] = index
    return amean, asig
NAME:
      sigma_clip()
      
    PURPOSE:
      Calculate the mean/stdev of an array with sigma clipping. Iterate
      niter times, removing elements that are outside nsig, and recalculating
      mean/stdev.

    CALLING SEQUENCE:
      mean,stdev = sigma_clip(arr, niter=4, nsig=4, extra={})
    
    INPUTS:
      arr: A numpy array or a sequence that can be converted.

    OPTIONAL INPUTS:
      niter: number of iterations, defaults to 4
      nsig: number of sigma, defaults to 4

    OUTPUTS:
      mean,stdev: A tuple containing mean and standard deviation.
    OPTIONAL OUTPUTS
      extra={}: Dictionary containing the array of used indices in
         extra['index']

    REVISION HISTORY:
      Converted from IDL: 2006-10-23. Erin Sheldon, NYU