M
API Matrix

Minor Planet Center API

⭐ Beginner's Pick Science & Math / No Auth Required Beginner HTTP
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
72 Score
Grade B
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

The Minor Planet Center API (via Asterank) gives you access to data about asteroids, comets, and other small solar system bodies. It returns orbital parameters, estimated value, and other scientific data in an easy-to-use format. No API key is needed, making it a great choice for space enthusiasts learning to work with astronomical data.

💡

Beginner Tip

Use the "limit" query parameter to keep initial responses small — start with limit=5 so you can read through the JSON structure without being overwhelmed.

Available Data

space mission data
celestial body information
launch schedule
astronomical images
Use case: Integrate asterank.com information data into web and mobile applications

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "title": "Astronomy Picture of the Day",
  "date": "2025-01-15",
  "explanation": "A stunning nebula captured by the James Webb Telescope...",
  "url": "https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/...",
  "media_type": "image"
}

Field Reference

a Semi-major axis of the orbit in astronomical units (AU).
e Orbital eccentricity — 0 is a perfect circle, closer to 1 means more elliptical.
i Orbital inclination in degrees relative to the ecliptic plane.
H Absolute magnitude, used to estimate the size of the object.
full_name The full official designation or name of the minor planet or asteroid.

Implementation Example 

const url = "http://www.asterank.com/mpc";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Empty array response [] The MongoDB-style query filter did not match any records.
✓ Check your query syntax. Use simple filters like {"e":{"$lt":0.1}} (eccentricity less than 0.1) as a starting point.
Connection timeout The server may be temporarily unavailable or slow due to high load.
✓ Wait a moment and retry. Add a longer timeout to your request if scripting: curl --max-time 30.
Invalid JSON in query parameter The query string is not properly URL-encoded or is malformed JSON.
✓ URL-encode curly braces and quotes, or use a library like requests in Python which handles encoding automatically.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 0/15
🛠 Developer XP 20/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 228ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS NO
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Science & Math
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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