<p>Here is a short answer. @barrycarter's helpful <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/24530/solar-system-data-api/24548#comment41933_24530">comment</a> links to a <a href="https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/13489/7982">much larger</a> list of resources. Also, you may find answers below [this question] helpful.</p>
<p>There are <a href="https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/toolkit.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Spice</a> kernels for many (but not all) exploratory spacecraft as well, you can view them through the <a href="https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Horizons</a> interface or find them via ftp.</p>
<p>For most objects in Earth orbit, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-line_element_set" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Two Line Elements</a> (TLEs) from <a href="https://celestrak.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Celestrak</a> or <a href="https://www.space-track.org/auth/login" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Space-Trakck</a> are useful. See <a href="https://space.stackexchange.com/a/24445/12102">this answer</a> as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T14:46:25.410Z
Thanks! Do I understand right, If I want to create somehwat live orbital path timelapses of multiple bodies, I should use Spice? Querying Horizons for each trajectory could be tiresome.
Geri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T15:00:48.417Z
@Geri I have never used Spice myself, but here is what I know. The "kernels" are (usually large) tables of numbers, which are coefficients that are used to calculate the state vectors (position and velocity in 3D in J2000.0 coordinates) for objects in space. The objects could be planets, minor bodies, spacecraft, etc. They are *very carefully* pre-calculated, usually for years or centuries in the past and future, depending on the specific object and what is known about them. This is the best of all possible ways to do it.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T15:02:19.057Z
Horizons interpolates kernels, but you should use Spice directly, download all kernels, and interpolate yourself using spice routines. This is the extent of my understanding. You might consider un-accepting my answer for the moment and see if someone posts a better, or supplemental answer as well. But the short answer is definitely use Spice.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T15:05:56.000Z
You say Horizons actually use Spice? It sounds great. I think approaching the dataset is more easy using Horizons. So later on I could switch to Spice, once I have my prototype up and running.
Geri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T15:12:29.297Z
@Geri I did not mean to say it like that. Horizons interpolates kernels. Spice interpolates kernels. I *assume* Horizons uses Spice but I am out of my depth here. But I'm pretty sure you should use Spice in any event :-)
uhoh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-17T01:52:37.197Z
Thanks, I don't know what kernels are, just thought a common base for both dataset.
Geri
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-01-16T01:40:56.470Z
2018-01-16T01:40:56.470Z
2022-09-27T22:27:30.220Z
uhoh
<p>I'm prototyping a real time solar system / milky way discovery app.</p>

<p>Could you please help me on:<br>
-What is the best <strong>orbital data public API</strong> I can use?<br>
-What is the <strong>standard numerical way to define orbit</strong>?</p>

<p>I'm looking for something like <a href="https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi#top" rel="noreferrer">JPL Small-Body Database Browser</a>, but for every celestial objcets, and / or missions.</p>

<orbit><solar-system><milky-way><near-earth-object>
Solar system data API?
Geri
# Solar system data API?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-01-14)

I'm prototyping a real time solar system / milky way discovery app.

Could you please help me on:  
-What is the best **orbital data public API** I can use?  
-What is the **standard numerical way to define orbit**?

I'm looking for something like [JPL Small-Body Database Browser](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi#top), but for every celestial objcets, and / or missions.

**Tags:** orbit, solar-system, milky-way, near-earth-object


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-01-16. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Here is a short answer. @barrycarter's helpful [comment](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/24530/solar-system-data-api/24548#comment41933_24530) links to a [much larger](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/13489/7982) list of resources. Also, you may find answers below [this question] helpful.

There are [Spice](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/naif/toolkit.html) kernels for many (but not all) exploratory spacecraft as well, you can view them through the [Horizons](https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/horizons.cgi) interface or find them via ftp.

For most objects in Earth orbit, [Two Line Elements](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-line_element_set) (TLEs) from [Celestrak](https://celestrak.org/) or [Space-Trakck](https://www.space-track.org/auth/login) are useful. See [this answer](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/24445/12102) as well.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! Do I understand right, If I want to create somehwat live orbital path timelapses of multiple bodies, I should use Spice? Querying Horizons for each trajectory could be tiresome.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 I have never used Spice myself, but here is what I know. The "kernels" are (usually large) tables of numbers, which are coefficients that are used to calculate the state vectors (position and velocity in 3D in J2000.0 coordinates) for objects in space. The objects could be planets, minor bodies, spacecraft, etc. They are *very carefully* pre-calculated, usually for years or centuries in the past and future, depending on the specific object and what is known about them. This is the best of all possible ways to do it.  
> **username_1**: Horizons interpolates kernels, but you should use Spice directly, download all kernels, and interpolate yourself using spice routines. This is the extent of my understanding. You might consider un-accepting my answer for the moment and see if someone posts a better, or supplemental answer as well. But the short answer is definitely use Spice.  
> **username_0**: You say Horizons actually use Spice? It sounds great. I think approaching the dataset is more easy using Horizons. So later on I could switch to Spice, once I have my prototype up and running.  
> **username_1**: @username_0 I did not mean to say it like that. Horizons interpolates kernels. Spice interpolates kernels. I *assume* Horizons uses Spice but I am out of my depth here. But I'm pretty sure you should use Spice in any event :-)  
> **username_0**: Thanks, I don't know what kernels are, just thought a common base for both dataset.  

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