diff --git a/src/pint/fits_utils.py b/src/pint/fits_utils.py
index 61ab27d40..cb2f55621 100644
--- a/src/pint/fits_utils.py
+++ b/src/pint/fits_utils.py
@@ -5,21 +5,30 @@
 
 from erfa import DAYSEC as SECS_PER_DAY
 
+from astropy.io import fits
+
 from pint.pulsar_mjd import fortran_float
 
 
 __all__ = ["read_fits_event_mjds", "read_fits_event_mjds_tuples"]
 
 
-def read_fits_event_mjds_tuples(event_hdu, timecolumn="TIME"):
+def read_fits_event_mjds_tuples(
+    event_hdu: fits.hdu.BinTableHDU, timecolumn: str = "TIME"
+) -> np.ndarray:
     """Read a set of MJDs from a FITS HDU, with proper conversion of times to MJD
 
     The FITS time format is defined here:
     https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/journal/timing3.html
 
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    event_hdu : fits.hdu.BinTableHDU
+    timecolumn : str, optional
+
     Returns
     -------
-    mjds: MJDs returned are tuples of two doubles (jd1, jd2), as use by
+    mjds: MJDs returned are tuples of two doubles (jd1, jd2), as used by
         astropy Time() objects.
 
     """
@@ -63,13 +72,24 @@ def read_fits_event_mjds_tuples(event_hdu, timecolumn="TIME"):
     )
 
 
-def read_fits_event_mjds(event_hdu, timecolumn="TIME"):
+def read_fits_event_mjds(
+    event_hdu: fits.hdu.BinTableHDU, timecolumn: str = "TIME"
+) -> np.ndarray:
     """Read a set of MJDs from a FITS HDU, with proper conversion of times to MJD
 
     The FITS time format is defined here:
     https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/journal/timing3.html
 
     MJDs returned are double precision floats
+
+        Parameters
+    ----------
+    event_hdu : fits.hdu.BinTableHDU
+    timecolumn : str, optional
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    mjds: np.ndarray
     """
 
     event_hdr = event_hdu.header