NASA ADS
Science & Math
NASA Astrophysics Data System
Auth
OAuth
HTTPS
Yes
CORS
Yes
Common Use Cases
- •Integrate this API into your web or mobile application
- •Build data-driven dashboards and visualization tools
- •Create automated workflows using the API endpoints
Integration Guide
Review the API Documentation
Visit the official NASA ADS documentation to understand available endpoints, request formats, and response structures. Familiarize yourself with the API's rate limits and usage policies before integration.
Set Up OAuth Authentication
NASA ADS uses OAuth for authentication. You'll need to register your application with the provider to obtain client credentials. Implement the OAuth flow to obtain access tokens for authorized requests.
Use HTTPS for Secure Requests
NASA ADS supports HTTPS, ensuring encrypted communication. Always use HTTPS endpoints in production to protect data in transit and comply with modern web security standards.
CORS Enabled — Direct Browser Access
NASA ADS has CORS enabled, meaning you can make requests directly from the browser. This is ideal for frontend-only applications built with React, Vue, or vanilla JavaScript.
Implement and Test
Write your API integration code, start with a simple test request to verify connectivity. Implement proper error handling for network failures, rate limits, and invalid responses. Monitor your API usage to stay within any limits.
Code Examples
JavaScript / Fetch API:
// JavaScript example (with API key)
const apiKey = process.env.API_KEY; // Store your key securely
fetch("https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/help/api/api-docs.html", {
headers: {
"Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
// Or use: "X-API-Key": apiKey
// Check the docs for the correct header format
}
})
.then(response => {
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`HTTP error! status: ${response.status}`);
}
return response.json();
})
.then(data => {
console.log("API response:", data);
})
.catch(error => {
console.error("Error fetching from NASA ADS:", error);
});Python / Requests:
# Python example (with API key)
import requests
import os
api_key = os.environ.get("API_KEY") # Store your key securely
headers = {
"Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
# Or use: "X-API-Key": api_key
}
response = requests.get("https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/help/api/api-docs.html", headers=headers)
if response.status_code == 200:
data = response.json()
print("API response:", data)
else:
print(f"Error: {response.status_code}")