{"uid":"cap_mc0ri_ZGb8A5w-YYpv3Hq","slug":"2s-io-asteroid-comet-sky-position-observer-52d0d894","name":"2s.io Asteroid & Comet Sky Position Observer","description":"Compute where any asteroid or comet is in the sky and whether you can see it. Give a body (designation/number/name, e.g. \"433 Eros\", \"Ceres\", \"2024 YR4\") and optionally your lat/lon and a time (ISO, default now). Returns the body's identity (NEO/PHA flags, orbit class, absolute magnitude H), its geocentric right ascension + declination, the constellation it's in, geocentric + heliocentric distance (AU), solar phase angle, and its apparent visual magnitude (IAU H-G model — how bright it appears now). With lat/lon it adds altitude/azimuth, whether it's above your horizon, a visible-now flag (up AND sky dark), and the best viewing window in the next 24 hours (when it's highest during darkness). Orbital position is computed locally from JPL elements — VALIDATED against JPL Horizons to <0.1 arcminute. Stargazing, astrophotography planning, occultation/observation prep. For the body's static physical + orbital params see /api/space/body.","url":"https://2s.io/api/space/observe","method":"GET","headers":{},"bodySchema":{"type":"object","$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","required":["input"],"properties":{"input":{"type":"object","required":["type","method","queryParams"],"properties":{"type":{"const":"http"},"method":{"const":"GET"},"queryParams":{"required":["body"],"properties":{"at":{"type":"string","description":"Instant (ISO). Default: now."},"lat":{"type":"number","maximum":90,"minimum":-90,"description":"Observer latitude (for alt/az + visibility)."},"lon":{"type":"number","maximum":180,"minimum":-180,"description":"Observer longitude."},"body":{"type":"string","description":"Asteroid/comet designation, number, or name."},"altKm":{"type":"number","description":"Observer altitude in km (default 0)."}}}}}}},"responseSchema":null,"example":{"request":{"input":{"type":"http","method":"GET","queryParams":{"at":"2024-01-15T20:00:00Z","lat":40.7,"lon":-74,"body":"433 Eros","altKm":0}}},"response":{"data":{"ok":true,"items":[{"at":"2024-01-15T20:00:00.000Z","body":{"neo":true,"pha":false,"fullName":"433 Eros (A898 PA)","orbitClass":"Amor","absoluteMagnitudeH":10.4},"observer":{"azimuthDeg":164.49,"visibleNow":false,"altitudeDeg":54.06,"bestViewing":{"at":"2024-01-15T22:30:00.000Z","altitudeDeg":46.74},"aboveHorizon":true},"position":{"constellation":"Pisces","phaseAngleDeg":36.79,"declinationDeg":5.6848,"apparentMagnitude":13.24,"rightAscensionHours":23.3232,"geocentricDistanceAu":1.6352,"heliocentricDistanceAu":1.4012}}],"total":1,"source":{"url":"https://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_lookup.html","license":"Public-domain elements (NASA/JPL-Caltech); position computed locally (MIT astronomy-engine).","provider":"NASA JPL Small-Body Database (orbital elements) + computed ephemeris (astronomy-engine)"}},"meta":{"cost":{"usd":0.00288,"tier":0},"caller":"x402","version":null,"endpoint":"space.observe","settlement":{"txHash":"0x7859e77aa5263bc5141275d3985938452cb18c7d0ef7f684fad733180fc2e706","network":"eip155:8453","success":true}}}},"exampleRequest":{"at":"2024-01-15T20:00:00Z","lat":40.7,"lon":-74,"body":"433 Eros","altKm":0},"tags":["x402"],"displayCostAmount":"0.00288","displayCostAsset":"USDC","priceDynamic":false,"priceHint":null,"priceStatus":"priced","priceSource":"settled","requiresHandshake":false,"reviewCount":0,"rating":{"score":"0.00","successRate":"0.00","reviews":0,"stars":null,"state":"unrated"},"availabilityStatus":"unknown","priceObserved":null,"sessionDeposit":null,"pricing":{"kind":"static","summary":"$0.00288/call","primary":{"kind":"static","protocol":"x402","network":"base","amountUsd":"0.0072","per":"call","confidence":"exact"},"accepted":[{"kind":"static","protocol":"x402","network":"base","amountUsd":"0.0072","per":"call","confidence":"exact"}]},"paymentMethods":[{"uid":"pm_IkYRKCww73bawUa365gQ1","protocol":"x402","methodType":"crypto","chain":"base","mode":"charge","costAmount":"0.0072","costPer":"request","priority":0,"asset":"0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913","unit":"request","depositMicros":null,"planRef":null}],"brandName":null,"brandSlug":null,"brandBaseUrl":null,"brandDocsUrl":null,"whatItDoes":"Compute the current or future sky position, brightness, and visibility of any asteroid or comet from a given observer location and time","exampleAgentPrompt":"Where is asteroid 433 Eros in the sky right now, and can I see it tonight from my backyard at latitude 40.7, longitude -74.0? Also tell me when the best viewing window is in the next 24 hours.","exampleUseCases":null,"resultDescription":"Returns the asteroid/comet's identity (NEO/PHA flags, orbit class, absolute magnitude H), geocentric right ascension and declination, constellation, geocentric and heliocentric distances in AU, solar phase angle, apparent visual magnitude computed via the IAU H-G model. With lat/lon also returns altitude, azimuth, whether it is currently above the horizon, a visible-now flag (above horizon AND sky dark), and the optimal 24-hour viewing window (highest elevation during darkness).","failureModes":["Unrecognized or misspelled body designation — returns error with no orbital data","Body designation is valid but no JPL elements available — returns not-found error","Invalid lat/lon range (lat outside ±90, lon outside ±180) — returns validation error","Invalid ISO datetime format for 'at' parameter — returns parse error","Body exists but is below detection threshold or has no magnitude data — magnitude may be absent"],"whenToPreferThis":"Use this endpoint when you need to know the real-time or future sky position and observability of a specific asteroid or comet. It is purpose-built for small solar-system bodies (asteroids, comets, NEOs, PHAs) with observer-specific alt/az and visibility windows — not for planets, stars, or deep-sky objects. Prefer this over general planetarium APIs when you need JPL-validated orbital accuracy to <0.1 arcminute, apparent magnitude from the IAU H-G model, and 24-hour viewing window optimization for astrophotography planning.","instructions":null,"reviewSummary":null,"reviewSummaryHighlights":null,"reviewSummaryConcerns":null,"reviewSummaryGeneratedAt":null,"activationCount":0,"lastUsedAt":null,"lastSuccessfullyRanAt":null,"lastHealthCheckAt":"2026-09-15T13:10:39.667Z","isFirstParty":false}