# NASA JPL Small-Body Database Scraper (`parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes asteroid and comet records from the NASA JPL Small-Body Database by designation or catalogue browse. Returns each object as a flat row with orbital and physical fields.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, AI, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### NASA JPL Small-Body Database Scraper

**Scrape asteroid and comet data from the NASA JPL Small-Body Database, one object or a million.** Each row includes orbital elements, physical parameters, and close-approach details. No API key. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

The NASA JPL Small-Body Database is the authoritative source for asteroid and comet orbits, physical properties, and discovery circumstances. This Actor queries the public SBDB API directly, so you can pull a single object by designation or browse the entire catalogue without writing any code.

| Who uses it | What they scrape NASA JPL Small-Body Database for |
|---|---|
| Astronomy researchers | Build a local dataset of asteroid orbits for dynamical studies |
| Space mission planners | Screen candidate near-Earth objects for rendezvous or deflection |
| Science educators | Create classroom datasets of real asteroid and comet properties |
| Data journalists | Fact-check stories about close approaches or newly discovered objects |

### What it does

This Actor collects small-body records from the NASA JPL Small-Body Database by designation or catalogue browse, and returns each object as a flat row with orbital and physical fields.

- 🔭 **Lookup by designation:** fetch full physical and orbital data for specific asteroids or comets by number, name, or SPK-ID.
- 📚 **Catalogue browse:** list many bodies of a chosen kind, such as numbered asteroids or unnumbered comets, when no designations are given.
- 🧮 **Flat row output:** every object is returned as one record with consistent fields for easy export and analysis.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with NASA JPL Small-Body Database data

**🪐 Build an asteroid catalogue.**

A researcher browses all numbered asteroids and exports the dataset to CSV for statistical analysis of orbital distributions.

**🛰️ Screen near-Earth objects.**

A mission planner looks up specific NEO designations to compare their orbital elements and physical sizes for a potential flyby.

**📊 Track comet discoveries.**

A science writer browses unnumbered comets to find recently discovered objects and verify their perihelion dates for an article.

**🎓 Teach orbital mechanics.**

An educator fetches a set of well-known asteroids and uses the semi-major axis and eccentricity fields in a classroom exercise.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key required** | The SBDB public API is open, so you can start scraping immediately |
| **Authoritative data** | Orbital elements and physical parameters come straight from JPL |
| **Flexible input** | Fetch one object by name or browse thousands by category |
| **Structured output** | Every record is a flat row ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML |

### How it compares

No other Store actor targets NASA JPL Small-Body Database the same way, so the honest comparison is with the alternatives teams actually weigh.

| | NASA JPL Small-Body Database Scraper | Build it in-house | By hand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Run it now, zero config | Days of engineering | None, but hours per pull |
| When NASA JPL Small-Body Database changes | Maintained for you | You fix it | You re-learn the page |
| Proxies, retries, anti-bot | Built in | Your problem | Browser only |
| Output | Fixed JSON schema, CSV/Excel export | Whatever you build | Copy-paste |
| Cost | Pay per result | Engineering time | Analyst hours |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor with a list of designations for targeted lookups, or leave the list empty and choose a catalogue browse kind to list many bodies. The maximum items setting caps how many records are returned. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "designations": [
 "433",
 "1",
 "99942",
 "101955",
 "2",
 "4",
 "16",
 "21",
 "243"
 ],
 "maxItems": 10
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "designations": [
 "433",
 "1",
 "99942",
 "101955",
 "2",
 "4",
 "16",
 "21",
 "243"
 ],
 "maxItems": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.004 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $0.40 |
| 1,000 results | $4.00 |
| 10,000 results | $40.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [NASA JPL Small-Body Database Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to NASA JPL Small-Body Database through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that your designations are valid. If the list is empty, make sure you selected a browse kind. Also verify that the maximum items is at least 1.

**Why did the run stop after 10 items?**

Free Apify users are limited to 10 items as a preview. Upgrade to a paid plan to increase the maximum items up to 1,000,000.

**Why is a designation not found?**

The SBDB may not recognize the exact string. Try using the object's number or SPK-ID instead of a name, or check for typos.

**Why are some fields empty in the output?**

Not all objects have every physical parameter measured. The SBDB returns null for unknown values, which appear as empty fields in the dataset.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the NASA JPL Small-Body Database? | It is a database of orbital and physical data for asteroids and comets maintained by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The data is served through a public API that this Actor queries. |
| Do I need an API key to use this Actor? | No. The SBDB API is open and does not require authentication, so you can run the Actor with your Apify account. |
| How do I look up a specific asteroid or comet? | Add its designation, number, name, or SPK-ID to the designations list. For example, enter "433" for Eros or "101955" for Bennu. Each entry is fetched individually with full data. |
| How do I list many bodies at once? | Leave the designations list empty and choose a catalogue browse kind, such as "Asteroids (numbered)" or "Comets (unnumbered)". The Actor will list bodies of that kind up to the maximum items limit. |
| What fields are returned for each object? | Each record includes orbital elements like semi-major axis and eccentricity, physical parameters like diameter and albedo, and close-approach details when available. The exact fields are shown in the sample output. |
| Is there a limit on how many objects I can scrape? | Free Apify users are limited to 10 items as a preview. Paid users can set the maximum items up to 1,000,000. |
| Can I export the data to CSV or Excel? | Yes. The Actor returns data in a structured format that you can export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML from the Apify platform. |
| Does this Actor work for both asteroids and comets? | Yes. You can look up either type by designation, or browse catalogues for asteroids, comets, and their numbered or unnumbered subsets. |
| What is an SPK-ID? | An SPK-ID is a unique numeric identifier used by JPL's ephemeris system for solar system bodies. You can use it in the designations list to fetch a specific object. |
| How often is the SBDB data updated? | The SBDB is updated as new observations are processed by JPL. This Actor always queries the live API, so you get the latest data on each run. |

### Related actors

- [nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/nasa-exoplanet-archive-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp): Use this to scrape exoplanet data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive instead of small bodies.

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `designations` (type: `array`):

List of asteroid or comet designations, numbers, names or SPK-IDs to look up (for example "433", "99942", "Eros", "101955"). Each entry is fetched individually with full physical and orbital data. Leave empty to instead list many bodies via the catalogue browse mode below.

## `browseKind` (type: `string`):

When the designations list above is empty, browse the SBDB catalogue for many bodies of this kind. Asteroids and comets are listed with orbital and basic physical fields.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Free users: Limited to 10 items (preview). Paid users: Optional, max 1,000,000

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "designations": [
    "433",
    "1",
    "99942",
    "101955",
    "2",
    "4",
    "16",
    "21",
    "243"
  ],
  "browseKind": "a",
  "maxItems": 10
}
```

# 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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "designations": [
        "433",
        "1",
        "99942",
        "101955",
        "2",
        "4",
        "16",
        "21",
        "243"
    ],
    "maxItems": 10
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "designations": [
        "433",
        "1",
        "99942",
        "101955",
        "2",
        "4",
        "16",
        "21",
        "243",
    ],
    "maxItems": 10,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "designations": [
    "433",
    "1",
    "99942",
    "101955",
    "2",
    "4",
    "16",
    "21",
    "243"
  ],
  "maxItems": 10
}' |
apify call parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/jpl-small-body-database-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/niK3bfTzj1bfx01pN/builds/CNn0dulN0t6WUXe7g/openapi.json