NASA APIs

Base URL

https://api.nasa.gov

Authentication

All endpoints require an API key passed as api_key query parameter.

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

Key Endpoints

1. APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day)

GET /planetary/apod

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
`api_key`	string	Required. API key.
`date`	string	YYYY-MM-DD. Default: today.
`start_date`	string	Start of date range (YYYY-MM-DD).
`end_date`	string	End of date range (YYYY-MM-DD).
`count`	int	Return N random images (cannot combine with date/range).
`thumbs`	bool	Return thumbnail URL for video entries.

Example:

https://api.nasa.gov/planetary/apod?api_key=DEMO_KEY&date=2024-01-15

Response (JSON):

json

{
  "date": "2024-01-15",
  "title": "...",
  "explanation": "...",
  "url": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/...",
  "hdurl": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/...",
  "media_type": "image",
  "copyright": "..."
}

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.

3. Mars Rover Photos

GET /mars-photos/api/v1/rovers/{rover}/photos

Rovers: curiosity, opportunity, spirit, perseverance

Parameters:

Parameter	Type	Description
`api_key`	string	Required.
`sol`	int	Martian sol (day). Use `sol` OR `earth_date`, not both.
`earth_date`	string	YYYY-MM-DD.
`camera`	string	Filter by camera: `FHAZ`, `RHAZ`, `MAST`, `CHEMCAM`, `NAVCAM`, etc.
`page`	int	25 results per page.

Example:

https://api.nasa.gov/mars-photos/api/v1/rovers/curiosity/photos?sol=1000&camera=NAVCAM&api_key=DEMO_KEY

Rover manifest (mission metadata):

GET /mars-photos/api/v1/manifests/{rover}?api_key=DEMO_KEY

Response: Array of photos, each with id, sol, camera (with full_name), img_src, earth_date, rover.

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.