# NASA Data Scraper — APOD, Asteroids & Image Search (`thriftykiwi/nasa-data-scraper`) Actor Fetch data from free NASA public APIs: Astronomy Picture of the Day, Near Earth Objects (asteroids), and Image/Video Library search. No API key required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/thriftykiwi/nasa-data-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Thrifty Kiwi](https://apify.com/thriftykiwi) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing $5.00 / 1,000 result items 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 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/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 🚀 Fetch data from free NASA public APIs — no API key required. ### What it does This Actor queries three different NASA APIs and outputs structured JSON with images, descriptions, dates, and more. #### Modes | Mode | API | What you get | |------|-----|-------------| | **APOD** | Astronomy Picture of the Day | Daily astronomy image, title, explanation, HD URL | | **NEO** | Near Earth Objects | Asteroids/comets approaching Earth — diameter, velocity, miss distance, hazard status | | **Image Search** | NASA Image/Video Library | Search across NASA's entire media library | ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `mode` | enum | `apod` | One of: `apod`, `neo`, `image_search` | | `api_key` | string | `DEMO_KEY` | NASA API key. DEMO_KEY works but rate-limited (30 req/hr). Get free key at https://api.nasa.gov for 1000 req/hr. | | `date` | string | *(today)* | Date for APOD in YYYY-MM-DD (apod mode only) | | `neoMode` | enum | `feed` | `feed` (date-range approach data) or `browse` (full catalog) | | `startDate` | string | *(today)* | Start date for NEO feed YYYY-MM-DD (neo mode, feed) | | `endDate` | string | *(+7 days)* | End date for NEO feed (max 7 days, neo mode, feed) | | `query` | string | `mars` | Search term for NASA Image/Video Library | | `media_type` | enum | `image` | Media type: image, video, audio | | `maxPages` | integer | `1` | Max pages to fetch (neo browse / image_search) | ### Output examples #### APOD ```json { "source": "apod", "title": "NGC 1232: A Grand Design Spiral Galaxy", "date": "2024-01-01", "explanation": "Galaxies are fascinating...", "url": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2401/ngc1232b_vlt_960.jpg", "hdurl": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2401/ngc1232b_vlt_3969.jpg", "media_type": "image", "copyright": "" } ```` #### NEO (Near Earth Objects) ```json { "source": "neo", "id": "2001620", "name": "1620 Geographos (1951 RA)", "is_potentially_hazardous": true, "estimated_diameter_km_min": 2.35, "estimated_diameter_km_max": 5.25, "close_approach_date": "2026-08-12", "orbiting_body": "Earth", "relative_velocity_kph": "30101.53", "miss_distance_km": "25497054.40", "miss_distance_lunar": "66.30", "nasa_jpl_url": "https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html#/?sstr=2001620" } ``` #### Image/Video Library ```json { "source": "image_search", "nasa_id": "PIA12235", "title": "Mars Panorama", "description": "A panoramic view of...", "date_created": "2009-01-01T00:00:00Z", "media_type": "image", "keywords": ["Mars", "Panorama"], "center": "JPL", "links": ["https://images-assets.nasa.gov/image/PIA12235/PIA12235~orig.jpg"] } ``` ### Rate Limits - **DEMO\_KEY**: 30 requests per hour, ~50 per day. Good for testing. - **Free API key** (register at https://api.nasa.gov): 1000 requests per hour. Recommended for production. ### Use cases - Build a space image gallery or screensaver app - Feed astronomy content to social media bots - Enrich educational apps with real NASA imagery - Track near-Earth asteroids for science projects - Search and catalog NASA's media archive ### Pricing This Actor uses Pay-Per-Event pricing. You only pay for results you get. # Actor input Schema ## `mode` (type: `string`): Which NASA API to query. ## `api_key` (type: `string`): NASA API key. Use 'DEMO\_KEY' for testing (rate-limited to 30 req/hour). Register for a free key at https://api.nasa.gov for higher limits (1000 req/hour). ## `date` (type: `string`): Date for APOD in YYYY-MM-DD format. Leave empty for latest. Only used in 'apod' mode. ## `neoMode` (type: `string`): How to query NEO data. 'feed' returns asteroids approaching Earth in a date range. 'browse' browses the full NEO catalog. Only used in 'neo' mode. ## `startDate` (type: `string`): Start date for NEO approach feed in YYYY-MM-DD format. Defaults to today. Only used in 'neo' mode with neoMode='feed'. ## `endDate` (type: `string`): End date for NEO approach feed in YYYY-MM-DD format. Max 7 days from start\_date. Defaults to start\_date + 7. Only used in 'neo' mode with neoMode='feed'. ## `query` (type: `string`): Search term for NASA Image/Video Library (e.g., 'mars', 'jupiter', 'apollo 11', 'hubble'). Only used in 'image\_search' mode. ## `media_type` (type: `string`): Filter by media type. Only used in 'image\_search' mode. ## `maxPages` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of pages to fetch (for neo browse and image\_search modes). Each page returns up to 20 NEOs (browse) or 100 items (library). ## Actor input object example ```json { "mode": "apod", "api_key": "DEMO_KEY", "date": "2024-01-01", "neoMode": "feed", "startDate": "2026-07-10", "endDate": "2026-07-17", "query": "mars", "media_type": "image", "maxPages": 1 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # 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": "apod", "api_key": "DEMO_KEY", "date": "2024-01-01", "neoMode": "feed", "startDate": "2026-07-10", "endDate": "2026-07-17", "query": "mars", "media_type": "image", "maxPages": 1 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("thriftykiwi/nasa-data-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": "apod", "api_key": "DEMO_KEY", "date": "2024-01-01", "neoMode": "feed", "startDate": "2026-07-10", "endDate": "2026-07-17", "query": "mars", "media_type": "image", "maxPages": 1, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("thriftykiwi/nasa-data-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": "apod", "api_key": "DEMO_KEY", "date": "2024-01-01", "neoMode": "feed", "startDate": "2026-07-10", "endDate": "2026-07-17", "query": "mars", "media_type": "image", "maxPages": 1 }' | apify call thriftykiwi/nasa-data-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=thriftykiwi/nasa-data-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NASA Data Scraper — APOD, Asteroids & Image Search", "description": "Fetch data from free NASA public APIs: Astronomy Picture of the Day, Near Earth Objects (asteroids), and Image/Video Library search. No API key required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "4elXDSv1ofaDcdf1D" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/thriftykiwi~nasa-data-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-thriftykiwi-nasa-data-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/thriftykiwi~nasa-data-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-thriftykiwi-nasa-data-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/thriftykiwi~nasa-data-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-thriftykiwi-nasa-data-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": "Scraper Mode", "enum": [ "apod", "neo", "image_search" ], "type": "string", "description": "Which NASA API to query.", "default": "apod" }, "api_key": { "title": "NASA API Key", "type": "string", "description": "NASA API key. Use 'DEMO_KEY' for testing (rate-limited to 30 req/hour). Register for a free key at https://api.nasa.gov for higher limits (1000 req/hour).", "default": "DEMO_KEY" }, "date": { "title": "Date (APOD)", "type": "string", "description": "Date for APOD in YYYY-MM-DD format. Leave empty for latest. Only used in 'apod' mode.", "default": "" }, "neoMode": { "title": "NEO Query Mode", "enum": [ "feed", "browse" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to query NEO data. 'feed' returns asteroids approaching Earth in a date range. 'browse' browses the full NEO catalog. Only used in 'neo' mode.", "default": "feed" }, "startDate": { "title": "Start Date (NEO Feed)", "type": "string", "description": "Start date for NEO approach feed in YYYY-MM-DD format. Defaults to today. Only used in 'neo' mode with neoMode='feed'.", "default": "" }, "endDate": { "title": "End Date (NEO Feed)", "type": "string", "description": "End date for NEO approach feed in YYYY-MM-DD format. Max 7 days from start_date. Defaults to start_date + 7. Only used in 'neo' mode with neoMode='feed'.", "default": "" }, "query": { "title": "Search Query", "type": "string", "description": "Search term for NASA Image/Video Library (e.g., 'mars', 'jupiter', 'apollo 11', 'hubble'). Only used in 'image_search' mode.", "default": "mars" }, "media_type": { "title": "Media Type", "enum": [ "image", "video", "audio" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by media type. Only used in 'image_search' mode.", "default": "image" }, "maxPages": { "title": "Max Pages", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 100, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of pages to fetch (for neo browse and image_search modes). Each page returns up to 20 NEOs (browse) or 100 items (library).", "default": 1 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```