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nasa.md

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1# NASA APIs

NASA APIs

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3## Base URL

5```

6https://api.nasa.gov

7```

Base URL

https://api.nasa.gov

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9## Authentication

11NeoWs uses an API key passed as `api_key`; APOD now uses the separate WordPress endpoint below. Check per-service authentication in the NASA catalogue.

12- Get a free key at: https://api.nasa.gov/#signUp

13- Demo key: `DEMO_KEY` (rate-limited: 30 req/hour, 50 req/day per IP)

14- Registered keys: 1,000 req/hour

Authentication

NeoWs uses an API key passed as api_key; APOD now uses the separate WordPress endpoint below. Check per-service authentication in the NASA catalogue.

Get a free key at: https://api.nasa.gov/#signUp
Demo key: DEMO_KEY (rate-limited: 30 req/hour, 50 req/day per IP)
Registered keys: 1,000 req/hour

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16## Key Endpoints

Key Endpoints

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18### 1. APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day)

20Use the new WordPress service:

21```text

22GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic/260911

23GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic?page=1&per_page=5

24GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic?date_from=260901&date_to=260930

25```

26A single date is a **YYMMDD path segment**; ranges use `date_from` and `date_to`

27in the same format. List pagination is one-based and `per_page` is capped at 25.

28The old `date=YYYY-MM-DD` parameter can be silently ignored by this service:

29a September 30 probe returned the latest 25 entries instead of the requested date.

31The single-date response is an object; list responses are arrays. Fields include

32`date`, `post_id`, `title`, `permalink`, `media_type`, `explanation`, `credit`,

33`copyright`, `alt`, `url`, `hdurl`, and generated HTML links. `url` can be an

34article page. Preserve attribution and inspect media type before downloading.

36The NASA-linked [new API guide](https://schlotterer.notion.site/APOD-Feed-And-API-User-Guide-39697d8747c38015a53edfdde76d4f5e)

37is authoritative for this syntax; the NASA catalogue still contains some old

38query parameters. Legacy `/planetary/apod` is scheduled to retire December 1, 2026.

1. APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day)

Use the new WordPress service:

GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic/260911
GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic?page=1&per_page=5
GET https://science.nasa.gov/wp-json/wp/v2/apod-basic?date_from=260901&date_to=260930

A single date is a YYMMDD path segment; ranges use date_from and date_to in the same format. List pagination is one-based and per_page is capped at 25. The old date=YYYY-MM-DD parameter can be silently ignored by this service: a September 30 probe returned the latest 25 entries instead of the requested date.

The single-date response is an object; list responses are arrays. Fields include date, post_id, title, permalink, media_type, explanation, credit, copyright, alt, url, hdurl, and generated HTML links. url can be an article page. Preserve attribution and inspect media type before downloading.

The NASA-linked new API guide is authoritative for this syntax; the NASA catalogue still contains some old query parameters. Legacy /planetary/apod is scheduled to retire December 1, 2026.

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40### 2. NEO — Near Earth Objects (Asteroids NeoWs)

42```

43GET /neo/rest/v1/feed

44```

46**Parameters:**

48| Parameter | Type | Description |

49|--------------|--------|-------------|

50| `api_key` | string | **Required.** |

51| `start_date` | string | YYYY-MM-DD. Default: today. |

52| `end_date` | string | YYYY-MM-DD. Max 7 days from start. |

54**Example:**

55```

56https://api.nasa.gov/neo/rest/v1/feed?start_date=2024-01-01&end_date=2024-01-03&api_key=DEMO_KEY

57```

59**Lookup by asteroid ID:**

60```

61GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/{asteroid_id}?api_key=DEMO_KEY

62```

64**Browse all:**

65```

66GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/browse?api_key=DEMO_KEY

67```

69**Response structure:** `near_earth_objects` keyed by date, each containing array of objects with `name`, `nasa_jpl_url`, `estimated_diameter`, `close_approach_data`, `is_potentially_hazardous_asteroid`.

2. NEO — Near Earth Objects (Asteroids NeoWs)

GET /neo/rest/v1/feed

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
`api_key`	string	Required.
`start_date`	string	YYYY-MM-DD. Default: today.
`end_date`	string	YYYY-MM-DD. Max 7 days from start.

Example:

https://api.nasa.gov/neo/rest/v1/feed?start_date=2024-01-01&end_date=2024-01-03&api_key=DEMO_KEY

Lookup by asteroid ID:

GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/{asteroid_id}?api_key=DEMO_KEY

Browse all:

GET /neo/rest/v1/neo/browse?api_key=DEMO_KEY

Response structure: near_earth_objects keyed by date, each containing array of objects with name, nasa_jpl_url, estimated_diameter, close_approach_data, is_potentially_hazardous_asteroid.

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71### 3. Archived services

73The NASA portal marks the Mars Rover Photos and Earth APIs as archived. Do not

74use the former `/mars-photos/api/v1/...` routes for new retrieval workflows.

75For Earth imagery, follow the portal's Earthdata GIBS replacement link.

3. Archived services

The NASA portal marks the Mars Rover Photos and Earth APIs as archived. Do not use the former /mars-photos/api/v1/... routes for new retrieval workflows. For Earth imagery, follow the portal's Earthdata GIBS replacement link.

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77## Rate Limits

79| Key Type | Hourly Limit | Daily Limit |

80|------------|-------------|-------------|

81| `DEMO_KEY` | 30/hour | 50/day |

82| Registered | 1,000/hour | Unlimited |

84Rate limit headers: `X-RateLimit-Limit`, `X-RateLimit-Remaining`.

86Official [migration notice](https://api.nasa.gov/assets/html/header.html) and [API catalogue](https://api.nasa.gov/assets/json/apis.json).

Rate Limits

Key Type	Hourly Limit	Daily Limit
`DEMO_KEY`	30/hour	50/day
Registered	1,000/hour	Unlimited

Rate limit headers: X-RateLimit-Limit, X-RateLimit-Remaining.

Official migration notice and API catalogue.

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