# NASA Exoplanet Archive Scraper (`crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper`) Actor Search and filter NASA's Exoplanet Archive - 5,500+ confirmed planets. Find recent discoveries, search by host star, filter by discovery method, or find potentially habitable planets. Free, no API key required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Crawler Bros](https://apify.com/crawlerbros) (community) - **Categories:** Automation, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## 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 Exoplanet Archive Scraper Explore **5,500+ confirmed exoplanets** from NASA's official Exoplanet Archive using their Table Access Protocol (TAP) API. Find recent discoveries, search for planets around specific stars, filter by discovery method, or identify Earth-like candidates in the habitable zone. No API key required. ### What data can I get? - **Recent planet discoveries** — all planets discovered in the past few years (2020+) - **Planets by host star** — all known planets orbiting a specific star (e.g. TRAPPIST-1, Kepler-442) - **Filtered planet lists** — filter by discovery method (Transit, Radial Velocity, Direct Imaging, etc.) - **Habitable zone candidates** — planets with Earth-like radius (<2 R⊕) and suitable temperatures (200–350 K) - **Complete planet parameters** — orbital period, radius, mass, temperature, facility, and more ### Features - **4 modes:** search planets, get recent discoveries, look up by star name, or find habitable-zone planets - **Discovery method filter** — Transit, Radial Velocity, Direct Imaging, Microlensing, Astrometry, and more - **Year range filtering** — narrow results to planets discovered within specific years - **NASA's composite parameter table** — uses `pscomppars` for best-value parameters per planet - **No API key** — uses NASA's public TAP (Table Access Protocol) endpoint ### Input | Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `mode` | select | `searchPlanets`, `recentDiscoveries`, `getByStarName`, or `habitableZone` | | `hostStar` | text | Host star name for `getByStarName` mode (e.g. `TRAPPIST-1`, `Kepler-442`) | | `minYear` | integer | Earliest discovery year (default: 2020) | | `maxYear` | integer | Latest discovery year (default: 2025) | | `discoveryMethod` | select | Filter by detection method (e.g. Transit, Radial Velocity) | | `maxItems` | integer | Max records to return (1–1000, default: 100) | #### Discovery Methods | Method | Description | |--------|-------------| | Transit | Planet passes in front of the star, dimming its light | | Radial Velocity | Planet's gravity causes measurable star wobble | | Direct Imaging | Planet photographed directly | | Microlensing | Gravitational lensing of background starlight | | Astrometry | Precise measurement of star position wobble | | Timing Variations | Changes in timing of pulsar or transiting planet signals | ### Output Each record contains: | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `planetName` | Full planet designation (e.g. `Kepler-442 b`) | | `hostStar` | Name of the host star (e.g. `Kepler-442`) | | `orbitalPeriodDays` | Orbital period in Earth days | | `planetRadiusEarth` | Planet radius in Earth radii (R⊕) | | `planetMassEarth` | Planet mass in Earth masses (M⊕) | | `equilibriumTempK` | Equilibrium temperature in Kelvin | | `discoveryYear` | Year of discovery | | `discoveryMethod` | Method used to detect the planet | | `discoveryFacility` | Observatory/telescope that made the discovery | | `numberOfStars` | Number of stars in the host system | | `numberOfPlanets` | Number of confirmed planets in the system | | `scrapedAt` | ISO 8601 timestamp | ### Examples #### Recent Discoveries (2022–2025) ```json { "mode": "recentDiscoveries", "minYear": 2022, "maxYear": 2025, "maxItems": 50 } ```` **Sample output:** ```json { "planetName": "TOI-700 e", "hostStar": "TOI-700", "orbitalPeriodDays": 27.812, "planetRadiusEarth": 0.95, "equilibriumTempK": 269.0, "discoveryYear": 2023, "discoveryMethod": "Transit", "discoveryFacility": "Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite", "numberOfStars": 1, "numberOfPlanets": 4, "scrapedAt": "2024-01-15T10:30:00+00:00" } ``` #### TRAPPIST-1 System ```json { "mode": "getByStarName", "hostStar": "TRAPPIST-1", "maxItems": 20 } ``` #### Habitable Zone Candidates ```json { "mode": "habitableZone", "maxItems": 100 } ``` ### FAQs **Q: Is an API key required?** A: No. NASA's Exoplanet Archive TAP API is completely free and open. No registration needed. **Q: How many planets are in the database?** A: Over 5,500 confirmed exoplanets as of 2024, with new discoveries added regularly. **Q: What is the `pscomppars` table?** A: The Planetary Systems Composite Parameters table provides the best available parameter values for each confirmed planet, combining data from multiple literature sources. **Q: Why are some fields missing for some planets?** A: Not all parameters are measured for every planet. Fields like mass or temperature may be missing if the observation method doesn't capture them (e.g., direct imaging planets often lack mass measurements). **Q: What does equilibrium temperature mean?** A: The equilibrium temperature (in Kelvin) is the theoretical surface temperature if the planet were a perfect blackbody. Earth's is ~255 K; the greenhouse effect brings it to ~288 K. For habitable zone candidates, look for 200–350 K. **Q: How do I find Earth-like planets?** A: Use `habitableZone` mode, which filters for planets with radius < 2 Earth radii and equilibrium temperature between 200–350 K — the conditions most likely to support liquid water. **Q: What year range is supported?** A: The first confirmed exoplanet (51 Peg b) was discovered in 1995. You can filter from 1989 onwards. New discoveries are added within days of publication. ### Data Source Data sourced from the [NASA Exoplanet Archive](https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/) — operated by the California Institute of Technology under contract with NASA's Exoplanet Exploration Program. Data is continuously updated as new planets are confirmed. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): What to search for: recent discoveries, all planets with filters, planets orbiting a specific star, or potentially habitable planets. ## `hostStar` (type: `string`): Name of the host star to look up planets for (mode=getByStarName). Examples: Kepler-442, TRAPPIST-1, 55 Cnc. ## `minYear` (type: `integer`): Filter planets discovered from this year onwards (inclusive). Used in searchPlanets and recentDiscoveries modes. ## `maxYear` (type: `integer`): Filter planets discovered up to this year (inclusive). Used in searchPlanets and recentDiscoveries modes. ## `discoveryMethod` (type: `string`): Filter by how the planet was discovered. Leave empty for all methods. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of planet records to return (1–1000). ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "recentDiscoveries", "hostStar": "TRAPPIST-1", "minYear": 2022, "maxYear": 2025, "discoveryMethod": "", "maxItems": 50 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `exoplanets` (type: `string`): Dataset containing all scraped exoplanet 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": "recentDiscoveries", "hostStar": "TRAPPIST-1", "minYear": 2022, "maxYear": 2025, "discoveryMethod": "", "maxItems": 50 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-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": "recentDiscoveries", "hostStar": "TRAPPIST-1", "minYear": 2022, "maxYear": 2025, "discoveryMethod": "", "maxItems": 50, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-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": "recentDiscoveries", "hostStar": "TRAPPIST-1", "minYear": 2022, "maxYear": 2025, "discoveryMethod": "", "maxItems": 50 }' | apify call crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=crawlerbros/nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NASA Exoplanet Archive Scraper", "description": "Search and filter NASA's Exoplanet Archive - 5,500+ confirmed planets. Find recent discoveries, search by host star, filter by discovery method, or find potentially habitable planets. Free, no API key required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "ryMiM9nQhlDF4Dpcr" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/crawlerbros~nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-crawlerbros-nasa-exoplanet-archive-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-crawlerbros-nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/crawlerbros~nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-crawlerbros-nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "searchPlanets", "recentDiscoveries", "getByStarName", "habitableZone" ], "type": "string", "description": "What to search for: recent discoveries, all planets with filters, planets orbiting a specific star, or potentially habitable planets.", "default": "searchPlanets" }, "hostStar": { "title": "Host Star Name", "type": "string", "description": "Name of the host star to look up planets for (mode=getByStarName). Examples: Kepler-442, TRAPPIST-1, 55 Cnc." }, "minYear": { "title": "Discovery Year From", "minimum": 1989, "maximum": 2030, "type": "integer", "description": "Filter planets discovered from this year onwards (inclusive). Used in searchPlanets and recentDiscoveries modes.", "default": 2020 }, "maxYear": { "title": "Discovery Year To", "minimum": 1989, "maximum": 2030, "type": "integer", "description": "Filter planets discovered up to this year (inclusive). Used in searchPlanets and recentDiscoveries modes.", "default": 2025 }, "discoveryMethod": { "title": "Discovery Method", "enum": [ "", "Transit", "Radial Velocity", "Direct Imaging", "Microlensing", "Astrometry", "Timing Variations", "Orbital Brightness Modulation", "Eclipse Timing Variations", "Disk Kinematics" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by how the planet was discovered. Leave empty for all methods.", "default": "" }, "maxItems": { "title": "Max Items", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 1000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of planet records to return (1–1000).", "default": 100 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```