# Data.gov Catalog Scraper (`crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper`) Actor Scrape the Data.gov catalog (catalog.data.gov). Search 300,000+ open government datasets by keyword, organization, and format. Fetch dataset details or list organizations. No API key required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Crawler Bros](https://apify.com/crawlerbros) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 4 bookmarks - **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars ## Pricing from $3.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## NASA Open Data Scraper Search and extract metadata from [NASA's Open Data Portal](https://data.nasa.gov/) — powered by CKAN with 40,000+ NASA datasets covering Earth science, space exploration, aeronautics, climate, and more. No API key required. ### What you can scrape - **Datasets** — titles, descriptions, resources (files), tags, organization, license, metadata dates, resource counts - **Dataset detail** — full metadata for specific datasets by ID or slug - **Organizations** — NASA organizations publishing open data, with package counts ### Use cases - NASA research data discovery and analysis - Finding Earth science, climate, or space datasets - Academic and scientific research - Building data pipelines from NASA open sources - Tracking dataset availability by NASA program - Discovering datasets in specific formats (CSV, GeoJSON, HDF, FITS, etc.) ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `mode` | select | `searchDatasets` (default), `getDatasetDetail`, or `listOrganizations` | | `searchQuery` | string | Keyword(s) to search dataset titles and descriptions | | `organization` | string | Filter by NASA organization slug (e.g. `nasa`) | | `format` | select | Filter by resource format: CSV, JSON, GeoJSON, ZIP, PDF, etc. | | `sortBy` | select | Sort by relevance, recently modified, recently added, or name | | `datasetIds` | array | Dataset IDs or slugs for `getDatasetDetail` mode | | `maxItems` | integer | Max records to return (1–5000, default 25) | #### Example inputs **Search climate datasets:** ```json { "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "climate", "maxItems": 50 } ```` **Search Mars datasets in ZIP format:** ```json { "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "mars", "format": "ZIP", "maxItems": 100 } ``` **Get specific dataset details:** ```json { "mode": "getDatasetDetail", "datasetIds": ["tracking-climate-models"], "maxItems": 10 } ``` **List all NASA organizations:** ```json { "mode": "listOrganizations", "maxItems": 200 } ``` ### Output #### Dataset record ```json { "datasetId": "296fce57-6171-425e-ae6d-ba0830e27a26", "datasetSlug": "islscp-ii-climate-research-unit-cru05-monthly-climate-data-d1e5f", "title": "ISLSCP II Climate Research Unit CRU05 Monthly Climate Data", "description": "This data set contains a mean monthly climatology for several climate variables...", "organizationName": "nasa", "organizationTitle": "NASA", "maintainer": "Earthdata Forum", "maintainerEmail": "earthdata-support@nasa.gov", "tags": ["earth-science-atmospheric-temperature", "earth-science-precipitation"], "resources": [ { "name": "Dataset Download", "format": "ZIP", "url": "https://data.ornldaac.earthdata.nasa.gov/...", "created": "2025-08-21T18:27:40.671929" } ], "licenseTitle": "other-license-specified", "isOpen": false, "metadataCreated": "2025-04-01T16:43:52.479370", "metadataModified": "2026-05-18T19:57:44.199238", "numResources": 7, "numTags": 5, "sourceUrl": "https://data.nasa.gov/dataset/296fce57-6171-425e-ae6d-ba0830e27a26", "scrapedAt": "2026-05-30T08:30:00+00:00", "recordType": "dataset" } ``` #### Organization record ```json { "orgName": "nasa", "orgTitle": "NASA", "orgDescription": "NASA's vision: To reach for new heights and reveal the unknown...", "memberCount": 0, "packageCount": 40000, "sourceUrl": "https://data.nasa.gov/organization/nasa", "scrapedAt": "2026-05-30T08:30:00+00:00", "recordType": "organization" } ``` ### FAQ **Do I need an API key?** No. NASA's Open Data Portal CKAN API is fully open and does not require authentication. **How many datasets are available?** Over 40,000 NASA datasets covering Earth science, space exploration, aeronautics, climate research, and more. **Can I filter by file format?** Yes. Use the `format` field to filter by CSV, JSON, ZIP, PDF, GeoJSON, and more. **Can I search by NASA organization?** Yes. Use the `organization` field with `nasa` as the slug. **What's the difference between searchDatasets and getDatasetDetail?** `searchDatasets` performs keyword search and returns many results. `getDatasetDetail` fetches complete metadata for specific datasets by their ID or slug. **Why are some fields missing from output?** Only fields with actual data are included. No null or blank values are emitted. **Can I get datasets sorted by date?** Yes. Set `sortBy` to `metadata_modified desc` for recently updated datasets or `metadata_created desc` for newest additions. **What science topics are covered?** NASA's portal includes data from Earth science, space physics, planetary science, astrophysics, aeronautics, human spaceflight, and climate research programs. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): Operation mode: search datasets, get a specific dataset, or list organizations. ## `searchQuery` (type: `string`): Keyword(s) to search in Data.gov dataset titles and descriptions. ## `organization` (type: `string`): Filter datasets by a specific organization slug (e.g. 'nasa', 'census-gov'). ## `format` (type: `string`): Filter datasets by resource file format. ## `sortBy` (type: `string`): How to sort search results. ## `datasetIds` (type: `array`): List of dataset IDs or slugs to fetch details for. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of records to return. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "climate", "format": "", "sortBy": "score desc", "maxItems": 25 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `datasets` (type: `string`): Dataset containing all scraped data.gov catalog records. # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "climate", "sortBy": "score desc", "maxItems": 25 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "climate", "sortBy": "score desc", "maxItems": 25, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "mode": "searchDatasets", "searchQuery": "climate", "sortBy": "score desc", "maxItems": 25 }' | apify call crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=crawlerbros/data-gov-catalog-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Data.gov Catalog Scraper", "description": "Scrape the Data.gov catalog (catalog.data.gov). Search 300,000+ open government datasets by keyword, organization, and format. Fetch dataset details or list organizations. No API key required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "H0uM4SZ8IGtCwH87m" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/crawlerbros~data-gov-catalog-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-crawlerbros-data-gov-catalog-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~data-gov-catalog-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-crawlerbros-data-gov-catalog-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~data-gov-catalog-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-crawlerbros-data-gov-catalog-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "mode" ], "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "searchDatasets", "getDatasetDetail", "listOrganizations" ], "type": "string", "description": "Operation mode: search datasets, get a specific dataset, or list organizations.", "default": "searchDatasets" }, "searchQuery": { "title": "Search query", "type": "string", "description": "Keyword(s) to search in Data.gov dataset titles and descriptions." }, "organization": { "title": "Organization slug", "type": "string", "description": "Filter datasets by a specific organization slug (e.g. 'nasa', 'census-gov')." }, "format": { "title": "File format", "enum": [ "", "CSV", "JSON", "XML", "PDF", "XLS", "XLSX", "ZIP", "KML", "SHP", "GeoJSON", "API", "RSS", "HTML", "RDF", "OData" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter datasets by resource file format.", "default": "" }, "sortBy": { "title": "Sort by", "enum": [ "score desc", "metadata_modified desc", "metadata_created desc", "name asc" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to sort search results.", "default": "score desc" }, "datasetIds": { "title": "Dataset IDs / slugs (mode=getDatasetDetail)", "type": "array", "description": "List of dataset IDs or slugs to fetch details for.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max items", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 5000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of records to return.", "default": 25 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```