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Astronomy

Astronomy APIs, Data, Software, Radio Astronomy, Visualization, SDKs & Software Development Tools and more.

Astronomy APIs​

  • AstroBin API - AstroBin is an image hosting website specifically targeted to astrophotographers. Its API offers a basic set of RESTful endpoints. Currently the API is read-only, and allows you to get data about images, and perform basic searches.
  • astrometry.net - "If you have astronomical imaging of the sky with celestial coordinates you do not know—or do not trust—then Astrometry.net is for you. Input an image and we'll give you back astrometric calibration meta-data, plus lists of known objects falling inside the field of view."
  • Open Astronomy Catalog API - The Open Astronomy Catalog API (OACAPI) offers a lightweight, simple way to access data available via the Open Astronomy Catalogs (e.g. the Open Supernova, Tidal Disruption, Kilonova, and Fast Stars Catalogs).
  • SpaceXDB-Api - SpaceXDB is a website containing SpaceX launch information and telemetry.

Astronomy Data​

Astronomy Software​

Radio Astronomy​

  • VIRGO - An open-source Spectrometer for Radio Astronomy
  • Radio-Sky Spectrograph - Free Windows program for recording and reviewing radio frequency spectragrams. RSS records consecutive snapshots of the power in each of up to 512 frequency channels. Data can be shared in real time over the internet or saved to disk for review. 8 Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers - A non-profit, international organization that supports amateur radio astronomy. SARA provides a collaborative environment for radio astronomers of all levels, where they can learn, teach, trade technical information, and make their own observations of the radio sky.

See also Radio

Visualization​

  • 100,000 Stars - 100,000 Stars is an interactive visualization of the stellar neighborhood showing the location of 119,617 nearby stars.
  • ANISE - ANISE provides a toolkit and files for Attitude, Navigation, Instrument, Spacecraft, and Ephemeris data. It's a modern replacement of the NAIF SPICE toolkit.
  • Celestia - Free real-time 3D visualization of space. (See also Celestia Motherlode for many add-ons.)
  • Cesium.js - An open-source JavaScript library for world-class 3D globes and maps
  • Gaia Sky - Real-time, 3D, astronomy visualization software developed in the framework of ESA's Gaia mission. Runs on Windows, Linux and macOS.
  • Harmony of the Spheres - Newtonian gravity and space simulator that runs in your browser
  • KStars - KStars is free, open source, cross-platform astronomy software. It provides many features, including a graphical simulation of the night sky, observing planner, a sky calendar tool, an FOV editor, and more.
  • LeoLabs Visualization - Low Earth Orbit Catalog Visualization.
  • Mars Now - This visualization shows the current location and communication activity of all operating landers, rovers and orbiters at Mars that transmit data to Earth via NASA’s Mars Relay Network.
  • NASA Eyes - Immersible apps to explore the Earth and solar system
  • Orb Viewer - Visualization of all the asteroids in the MPC database.
  • Orbit Simulator - A powerful numerical integration tool. "By performing n-body simulations, you can study the orbits of planets, moons, asteroids, or any object in the universe."
  • Orbiter 2016 - Open source spaceflight simulator with many addons for historical missions. Installation Instructions.
  • SpaceEngine : Realistic universe simulator and planetarium. Old versions are free.
  • Stellarium - Open source planetarium for your computer

Radio Astronomy​

  • RadioJOVE - Students and amateur scientists from around the world observe and analyze natural radio emissions of Jupiter, the Sun, and our galaxy using their own easy to construct radio telescopes.

SDKs & Software Development Tools​

  • ASCL.net - A free online registry for source code of interest to astronomers and astrophysicists
  • AstroKit - A web-based toolset for performing lightcurve photometry
  • astrometry.net - Code and an API for generating astrometric calibration meta-data
  • AstroPy - Collection of software packages written in Python and designed for use in astronomy
  • Rebound - A multi-purpose N-body integrator
  • Skyfield - Skyfield computes positions for the stars, planets, and satellites in orbit around the Earth.
  • Spacekit.js - An open-source library for building interactive Javascript- and WebGL-based space visualizations.