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nasa-exoplanet-archive.md

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1# NASA Exoplanet Archive API

NASA Exoplanet Archive API

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3## Base URL

5```

6https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu

7```

Base URL

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu

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9## Authentication

11No API key required. All endpoints are public.

Authentication

No API key required. All endpoints are public.

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13## Key Endpoints

Key Endpoints

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15### 1. TAP Service (recommended — current method)

17```

18GET /TAP/sync?query={ADQL}&format={format}

19```

21| Parameter | Type | Description |

22|-----------|--------|-------------|

23| `query` | string | **Required.** ADQL query. |

24| `format` | string | `json`, `csv`, `votable`, `tsv`, `ipac`. Default: `votable`. |

26**Example — confirmed planets with key parameters:**

27```

28https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,hostname,sy_dist,pl_orbper,pl_rade,pl_bmasse,disc_year,discoverymethod FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 ORDER BY disc_year DESC&format=json

29```

31**Example — planets in habitable zone (rough estimate):**

32```

33https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT TOP 50 pl_name,hostname,pl_orbsmax,st_teff,pl_rade FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND pl_orbsmax BETWEEN 0.8 AND 1.5 AND st_teff BETWEEN 4000 AND 7000&format=json

34```

36**Example — planets discovered by TESS:**

37```

38https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,pl_rade,pl_orbper,disc_year FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND disc_facility='Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)'&format=json

39```

41**Example — count planets by discovery method:**

42```

43https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT discoverymethod, COUNT(*) as cnt FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 GROUP BY discoverymethod ORDER BY cnt DESC&format=json

44```

1. TAP Service (recommended — current method)

GET /TAP/sync?query={ADQL}&format={format}

Parameter	Type	Description
`query`	string	Required. ADQL query.
`format`	string	`json`, `csv`, `votable`, `tsv`, `ipac`. Default: `votable`.

Example — confirmed planets with key parameters:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,hostname,sy_dist,pl_orbper,pl_rade,pl_bmasse,disc_year,discoverymethod FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 ORDER BY disc_year DESC&format=json

Example — planets in habitable zone (rough estimate):

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT TOP 50 pl_name,hostname,pl_orbsmax,st_teff,pl_rade FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND pl_orbsmax BETWEEN 0.8 AND 1.5 AND st_teff BETWEEN 4000 AND 7000&format=json

Example — planets discovered by TESS:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,pl_rade,pl_orbper,disc_year FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND disc_facility='Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)'&format=json

Example — count planets by discovery method:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT discoverymethod, COUNT(*) as cnt FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 GROUP BY discoverymethod ORDER BY cnt DESC&format=json

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46### 2. Legacy tables

48Tables migrated to TAP (including `ps`) cannot be queried through the old

49`nph-nstedAPI` recipe. Use TAP for the tables below and inspect `TAP_SCHEMA.tables`

50and `TAP_SCHEMA.columns` for the current catalogue.

2. Legacy tables

Tables migrated to TAP (including ps) cannot be queried through the old nph-nstedAPI recipe. Use TAP for the tables below and inspect TAP_SCHEMA.tables and TAP_SCHEMA.columns for the current catalogue.

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52## Key TAP Tables

54| Table | Description |

55|--------|-------------|

56| `ps` | **Planetary Systems** — one row per reference per planet. Use `default_flag=1` for the default/best parameter set. |

57| `pscomppars` | **Planetary Systems Composite Parameters** — one row per planet with best-fit values from multiple references. |

58| `stellarhosts` | Stellar properties of host stars. |

59| `TD` | Transiting Planets table; not a generic time-series table. |

60| `keplernames` | Kepler Object of Interest cross-references. |

61| `k2names` | K2 campaign cross-references. |

62| `toi` | TESS Objects of Interest. |

Key TAP Tables

Table	Description
`ps`	Planetary Systems — one row per reference per planet. Use `default_flag=1` for the default/best parameter set.
`pscomppars`	Planetary Systems Composite Parameters — one row per planet with best-fit values from multiple references.
`stellarhosts`	Stellar properties of host stars.
`TD`	Transiting Planets table; not a generic time-series table.
`keplernames`	Kepler Object of Interest cross-references.
`k2names`	K2 campaign cross-references.
`toi`	TESS Objects of Interest.

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64## Key Columns (ps table)

66| Column | Description |

67|------------------|-------------|

68| `pl_name` | Planet name (e.g., "Kepler-22 b"). |

69| `hostname` | Host star name. |

70| `default_flag` | 1 = default parameter set for this planet. |

71| `disc_year` | Discovery year. |

72| `discoverymethod` | `Transit`, `Radial Velocity`, `Imaging`, `Microlensing`, etc. |

73| `pl_orbper` | Orbital period (days). |

74| `pl_orbsmax` | Semi-major axis (AU). |

75| `pl_rade` | Planet radius (Earth radii). |

76| `pl_bmasse` | Planet mass (Earth masses). |

77| `pl_eqt` | Equilibrium temperature (K). |

78| `sy_dist` | Distance to system (parsecs). |

79| `st_teff` | Stellar effective temperature (K). |

80| `st_rad` | Stellar radius (solar radii). |

81| `st_mass` | Stellar mass (solar masses). |

82| `disc_facility` | Discovery facility name. |

Key Columns (ps table)

Column	Description
`pl_name`	Planet name (e.g., "Kepler-22 b").
`hostname`	Host star name.
`default_flag`	1 = default parameter set for this planet.
`disc_year`	Discovery year.
`discoverymethod`	`Transit`, `Radial Velocity`, `Imaging`, `Microlensing`, etc.
`pl_orbper`	Orbital period (days).
`pl_orbsmax`	Semi-major axis (AU).
`pl_rade`	Planet radius (Earth radii).
`pl_bmasse`	Planet mass (Earth masses).
`pl_eqt`	Equilibrium temperature (K).
`sy_dist`	Distance to system (parsecs).
`st_teff`	Stellar effective temperature (K).
`st_rad`	Stellar radius (solar radii).
`st_mass`	Stellar mass (solar masses).
`disc_facility`	Discovery facility name.

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84## Response Format (TAP JSON)

86The archive returns an array of objects keyed by selected column names:

87```json

88[{"pl_name": "Kepler-22 b", "pl_orbper": 289.8623}]

89```

90URL-encode the ADQL using a query-parameter encoder (for curl, `--get --data-urlencode`).

91`default_flag=1` selects the archive's default parameter row; it is not a guarantee

92that every column is populated or that the chosen solution is best for your analysis.

93The orbital-distance/temperature filter above is illustrative, not a validated

94habitable-zone classification.

Response Format (TAP JSON)

The archive returns an array of objects keyed by selected column names:

[{"pl_name": "Kepler-22 b", "pl_orbper": 289.8623}]

URL-encode the ADQL using a query-parameter encoder (for curl, --get --data-urlencode). default_flag=1 selects the archive's default parameter row; it is not a guarantee that every column is populated or that the chosen solution is best for your analysis. The orbital-distance/temperature filter above is illustrative, not a validated habitable-zone classification.

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96## Rate Limits

98No API key or authentication required. No formal rate limits documented, but the archive requests that users avoid excessive automated queries. Large result sets may cause timeouts; use bounded `TOP N` queries or partition on stable keys. `MAXREC` is a row cap, not an offset; inspect overflow status in VOTable results and never infer completeness from a capped JSON response.

100For very large downloads, use the bulk download interface at:

101```

102https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/TblView/nph-tblView?app=ExoTbls&config=PS

103```

Rate Limits

No API key or authentication required. No formal rate limits documented, but the archive requests that users avoid excessive automated queries. Large result sets may cause timeouts; use bounded TOP N queries or partition on stable keys. MAXREC is a row cap, not an offset; inspect overflow status in VOTable results and never infer completeness from a capped JSON response.

For very large downloads, use the bulk download interface at:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/TblView/nph-tblView?app=ExoTbls&config=PS

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