# NASA Data Scraper — APOD & Near-Earth Asteroids (`ponderable_hydrometer/nasa-scraper`) Actor NASA open data — Astronomy Picture of the Day (image/video, explanation) and near-Earth asteroids (size, hazard, approach distance & speed). Free API key (BYO). - **URL**: https://apify.com/ponderable\_hydrometer/nasa-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Ponderable Hydrometer](https://apify.com/ponderable_hydrometer) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, SEO tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.50 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows. 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/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 Data Scraper — APOD & Near-Earth Asteroids **Two useful NASA feeds in one actor: Astronomy Picture of the Day (a ready-made daily content feed) and near-Earth asteroid close approaches (an asteroid tracker).** Official NASA open data; works instantly with `DEMO_KEY`, or add your own free key for full rate. Perfect for education and space content, daily-image widgets, science newsletters, and asteroid close-approach dashboards. ### What you get Output shape depends on `mode`: - **`apod`** (Astronomy Picture of the Day) — `type`, `date`, `title`, `explanation`, `mediaType` (`image` / `video`), `url`, `hdurl`, `copyright` - **`neo`** (near-Earth objects, NeoWs) — `type`, `id`, `name`, `potentiallyHazardous`, `absoluteMagnitude`, `diameterMinM`, `diameterMaxM`, `closeApproachDate`, `missDistanceKm`, `velocityKmh`, `orbitingBody`, `isSentryObject`, `url` (JPL page) ### Modes - **apod** — a single `date`, a `startDate`/`endDate` range, or `count` random picks. - **neo** — close approaches between `startDate` and `endDate` (max 7 days apart), one row per asteroid approach. ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `mode` | string | `apod` | `apod` or `neo` | | `date` | string | today | Single APOD date `YYYY-MM-DD` | | `startDate` | string | — | Range start (`apod`) / required (`neo`) | | `endDate` | string | — | Range end (`apod`) / required (`neo`) | | `count` | integer | — | `apod`: return this many random APODs | | `apiKey` | string (secret) | `DEMO_KEY` | Your free api.nasa.gov key | ### Example input ```json { "mode": "apod", "startDate": "2026-07-01", "endDate": "2026-07-10" } ```` Asteroid approaches this week: ```json { "mode": "neo", "startDate": "2026-07-12", "endDate": "2026-07-19" } ``` ### Example output APOD: ```json { "type": "apod", "date": "2026-07-10", "title": "The Tadpole Nebula in Gas and Dust", "explanation": "What's happening to the gas and dust in the Tadpole Nebula? ...", "mediaType": "image", "url": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/Tadpole_1080.jpg", "hdurl": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2607/Tadpole_4000.jpg", "copyright": "Jane Doe" } ``` Near-Earth asteroid: ```json { "type": "asteroid", "id": "3542519", "name": "(2010 PK9)", "potentiallyHazardous": true, "absoluteMagnitude": 21.3, "diameterMinM": 152.95, "diameterMaxM": 341.99, "closeApproachDate": "2026-Jul-14 08:33", "missDistanceKm": 4218766.12, "velocityKmh": 56234.71, "orbitingBody": "Earth", "isSentryObject": false, "url": "https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=3542519" } ``` ### Why this actor - **Two ready-to-use products** — APOD is a daily content feed; NeoWs is a close-approach tracker. - **Normalized asteroid rows** — one flat row per close approach with size, hazard flag, miss distance and velocity already extracted. - **Instant trial** — runs on `DEMO_KEY` with no signup; upgrade to your own key for full throughput. ### Notes - **BYO key (optional):** `DEMO_KEY` is heavily rate-limited (~30 req/hour, 50/day per IP). Grab a free key at api.nasa.gov and set `apiKey` (stored as a secret) for reliable runs. Never hardcode a private key in a public task example — use `DEMO_KEY` there. - `neo` requires both `startDate` and `endDate`, and the range must be ≤ 7 days (NeoWs limit). - Data is NASA open data; this actor is independent and not affiliated with NASA. ### Pricing Pay per result — **$1.50 per 1,000 results**. No subscription or platform fees; you only pay for the results you get. ### Related actors - **arXiv Scraper** — physics/astro preprints. - **USGS Earthquakes Scraper** — natural-hazard event feeds. - **Open-Meteo Weather Scraper** — forecasts by place or coordinates. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): apod = Astronomy Picture of the Day; neo = near-Earth asteroids (close approaches). ## `date` (type: `string`): Single APOD date YYYY-MM-DD. Empty = today. ## `startDate` (type: `string`): Start date YYYY-MM-DD. For apod: a date range. For neo: required (max 7 days from end). ## `endDate` (type: `string`): End date YYYY-MM-DD. For apod: a date range. For neo: required. ## `count` (type: `integer`): For apod: return this many random APODs instead of a specific date/range. ## `apiKey` (type: `string`): Your free api.nasa.gov key. Leave empty for the shared DEMO\_KEY (heavily rate-limited). Kept secret. ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "apod" } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/nasa-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${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 = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("ponderable_hydrometer/nasa-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 '{}' | apify call ponderable_hydrometer/nasa-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=ponderable_hydrometer/nasa-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NASA Data Scraper — APOD & Near-Earth Asteroids", "description": "NASA open data — Astronomy Picture of the Day (image/video, explanation) and near-Earth asteroids (size, hazard, approach distance & speed). Free API key (BYO).", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "6NZHHpm3uPsgykufH" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~nasa-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-ponderable_hydrometer-nasa-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~nasa-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-nasa-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/ponderable_hydrometer~nasa-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-ponderable_hydrometer-nasa-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "properties": { "mode": { "title": "Mode", "enum": [ "apod", "neo" ], "type": "string", "description": "apod = Astronomy Picture of the Day; neo = near-Earth asteroids (close approaches).", "default": "apod" }, "date": { "title": "Date (apod, single day)", "type": "string", "description": "Single APOD date YYYY-MM-DD. Empty = today." }, "startDate": { "title": "Start date", "type": "string", "description": "Start date YYYY-MM-DD. For apod: a date range. For neo: required (max 7 days from end)." }, "endDate": { "title": "End date", "type": "string", "description": "End date YYYY-MM-DD. For apod: a date range. For neo: required." }, "count": { "title": "Random count (apod)", "type": "integer", "description": "For apod: return this many random APODs instead of a specific date/range." }, "apiKey": { "title": "NASA API key", "type": "string", "description": "Your free api.nasa.gov key. Leave empty for the shared DEMO_KEY (heavily rate-limited). Kept secret." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```