NASA Exoplanet Archive API

Base URL

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu

Authentication

No API key required. All endpoints are public.

Key Endpoints

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

2. Legacy API (older, still functional)

GET /cgi-bin/nstedAPI/nph-nstedAPI?table={table}&format={format}&where={conditions}&select={columns}

Example:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/nstedAPI/nph-nstedAPI?table=ps&select=pl_name,pl_orbper,pl_rade&where=disc_year=2023&format=json

Note: The legacy API is deprecated in favor of TAP. Use TAP for new applications.

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`	Time-series data (transit curves, RV curves).
`keplernames`	Kepler Object of Interest cross-references.
`k2names`	K2 campaign cross-references.
`toi`	TESS Objects of Interest.

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.

Response Format (TAP JSON)

json

{
  "metadata": [
    {"name": "pl_name", "datatype": "char"},
    {"name": "pl_orbper", "datatype": "double"}
  ],
  "data": [
    ["Kepler-22 b", 289.8623]
  ]
}

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 TOP N in ADQL or paginate with OFFSET and MAXREC.

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

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