drug-discovery-prompts/upstream/K-Dense-AI-scientific-agent-skills/skills/database-lookup/references/nasa-exoplanet-archive.md

title, task, lineage_type, upstream_source, upstream_sha, imported_at, prompt_class, upstream_changes, author, validated

title	task	lineage_type	upstream_source	upstream_sha	imported_at	prompt_class	upstream_changes	author	validated
NASA Exoplanet Archive API		import	https://github.com/K-Dense-AI/scientific-agent-skills/blob/9c9bd2e9/skills/database-lookup/references/nasa-exoplanet-archive.md	9c9bd2e9	2026-06-26	prompt	accepted	upstream	false

NASA Exoplanet Archive API

Base URL

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu

Authentication

No API key required. All endpoints are public.

Key Endpoints

1. TAP Service (recommended — current method)

GET /TAP/sync?query={ADQL}&format={format}

Parameter	Type	Description
query	string	Required. ADQL query.
format	string	json, csv, votable, tsv, ipac. Default: votable.

Example — confirmed planets with key parameters:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,hostname,sy_dist,pl_orbper,pl_rade,pl_bmasse,disc_year,discoverymethod FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 ORDER BY disc_year DESC&format=json

Example — planets in habitable zone (rough estimate):

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT TOP 50 pl_name,hostname,pl_orbsmax,st_teff,pl_rade FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND pl_orbsmax BETWEEN 0.8 AND 1.5 AND st_teff BETWEEN 4000 AND 7000&format=json

Example — planets discovered by TESS:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT pl_name,pl_rade,pl_orbper,disc_year FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 AND disc_facility='Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)'&format=json

Example — count planets by discovery method:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/TAP/sync?query=SELECT discoverymethod, COUNT(*) as cnt FROM ps WHERE default_flag=1 GROUP BY discoverymethod ORDER BY cnt DESC&format=json

2. Legacy API (older, still functional)

GET /cgi-bin/nstedAPI/nph-nstedAPI?table={table}&format={format}&where={conditions}&select={columns}

Example:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/nstedAPI/nph-nstedAPI?table=ps&select=pl_name,pl_orbper,pl_rade&where=disc_year=2023&format=json

Note: The legacy API is deprecated in favor of TAP. Use TAP for new applications.

Key TAP Tables

Table	Description
ps	Planetary Systems — one row per reference per planet. Use default_flag=1 for the default/best parameter set.
pscomppars	Planetary Systems Composite Parameters — one row per planet with best-fit values from multiple references.
stellarhosts	Stellar properties of host stars.
td	Time-series data (transit curves, RV curves).
keplernames	Kepler Object of Interest cross-references.
k2names	K2 campaign cross-references.
toi	TESS Objects of Interest.

Key Columns (ps table)

Column	Description
pl_name	Planet name (e.g., "Kepler-22 b").
hostname	Host star name.
default_flag	1 = default parameter set for this planet.
disc_year	Discovery year.
discoverymethod	Transit, Radial Velocity, Imaging, Microlensing, etc.
pl_orbper	Orbital period (days).
pl_orbsmax	Semi-major axis (AU).
pl_rade	Planet radius (Earth radii).
pl_bmasse	Planet mass (Earth masses).
pl_eqt	Equilibrium temperature (K).
sy_dist	Distance to system (parsecs).
st_teff	Stellar effective temperature (K).
st_rad	Stellar radius (solar radii).
st_mass	Stellar mass (solar masses).
disc_facility	Discovery facility name.

Response Format (TAP JSON)

{
  "metadata": [
    {"name": "pl_name", "datatype": "char"},
    {"name": "pl_orbper", "datatype": "double"}
  ],
  "data": [
    ["Kepler-22 b", 289.8623]
  ]
}

Rate Limits

No API key or authentication required. No formal rate limits documented, but the archive requests that users avoid excessive automated queries. Large result sets may cause timeouts; use TOP N in ADQL or paginate with OFFSET and MAXREC.

For very large downloads, use the bulk download interface at:

https://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/TblView/nph-tblView?app=ExoTbls&config=PS