diff --git a/heracles/catalog/fits.py b/heracles/catalog/fits.py
index 5d611aa..ecd0fcf 100644
--- a/heracles/catalog/fits.py
+++ b/heracles/catalog/fits.py
@@ -38,32 +38,37 @@ def rowfilter(array, expr):
 class FitsCatalog(CatalogBase):
     """flexible reader for catalogues from FITS files"""
 
-    def __init__(self, filename, *, columns=None, ext=None):
+    def __init__(self, path, *, columns=None, ext=None):
         """create a new FITS catalogue reader
 
         Neither opens the FITS file nor reads the catalogue immediately.
 
         """
         super().__init__()
-        self._filename = filename
+        self._path = path
         self._columns = columns
         self._ext = ext
 
     def __copy__(self):
         """return a copy of this catalog"""
         other = super().__copy__()
-        other._filename = self._filename
+        other._path = self._path
         other._columns = self._columns
         other._ext = self._ext
         return other
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """string representation of FitsCatalog"""
-        s = self._filename
+        s = self._path
         if self._ext is not None:
             s = s + f"[{self._ext!r}]"
         return s
 
+    @property
+    def path(self):
+        """path of the FITS file"""
+        return self._path
+
     def hdu(self):
         """HDU for catalogue data"""
 
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ def hdu(self):
         if hdu is None:
             # need to open the fits file explicitly, not via context manager
             # we will not close it, to keep the HDU alive
-            fits = fitsio.FITS(self._filename)
+            fits = fitsio.FITS(self._path)
 
             # but ensure fits gets closed in case of error
             try:
diff --git a/tests/test_catalog.py b/tests/test_catalog.py
index ab04d4e..bfccb6a 100644
--- a/tests/test_catalog.py
+++ b/tests/test_catalog.py
@@ -392,13 +392,13 @@ def test_fits_catalog(rng, tmp_path):
     ra = rng.uniform(-180, 180, size=size)
     dec = rng.uniform(-90, 90, size=size)
 
-    filename = str(tmp_path / "catalog.fits")
+    path = tmp_path / "catalog.fits"
 
-    with fitsio.FITS(filename, "rw") as fits:
+    with fitsio.FITS(path, "rw") as fits:
         fits.write(None)
         fits.write_table([ra, dec], names=["RA", "DEC"], extname="MYEXT")
 
-    catalog = FitsCatalog(filename)
+    catalog = FitsCatalog(path)
 
     assert isinstance(catalog, Catalog)
 
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ def test_fits_catalog(rng, tmp_path):
 
     assert isinstance(copied, FitsCatalog)
     assert copied is not catalog
-    assert copied._filename == catalog._filename
+    assert copied._path == catalog._path
     assert copied._columns == catalog._columns
     assert copied._ext == catalog._ext
 
@@ -457,13 +457,13 @@ def test_fits_catalog_caching(rng, tmp_path):
     ra = rng.uniform(-180, 180, size=size)
     dec = rng.uniform(-90, 90, size=size)
 
-    filename = str(tmp_path / "cached.fits")
+    path = tmp_path / "cached.fits"
 
-    with fitsio.FITS(filename, "rw") as fits:
+    with fitsio.FITS(path, "rw") as fits:
         fits.write(None)
         fits.write_table([ra, dec], names=["RA", "DEC"], extname="MYEXT")
 
-    catalog = FitsCatalog(filename)
+    catalog = FitsCatalog(path)
 
     hdu = catalog.hdu()
     assert catalog.hdu() is hdu
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ def test_fits_catalog_caching(rng, tmp_path):
 
     _fits = hdu._FITS
 
-    assert _fits.filename() == filename
+    assert _fits.filename() == str(path)
 
     del hdu
     gc.collect()