NASA ADS

API

API for accessing NASA's Astrophysics Data System literature catalog

Overview

The NASA ADS API provides programmatic access to the Astrophysics Data System (ADS) catalog— a comprehensive repository of astronomical literature, citations, and metadata. Key endpoints include search (for papers, authors, institutions), metadata retrieval (titles, abstracts, publication dates), citation count queries, and reference list extraction. Responses are structured in JSON format. Use cases include integrating literature data into research workflows, building citation analysis tools, creating custom alert systems for new publications, and supporting academic studies in astrophysics, cosmology, and related fields.

Example Integration (JavaScript)

script.js JS


fetch('https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/help/api/api-docs.html')
  .then(res => res.json())
  .then(data => console.log(data))
  .catch(err => console.error(err));

Key Features

RESTful API
JSON Responses
Astronomical Literature Metadata
Citation Analysis Support
Author/Institution Search

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is NASA ADS free to use?

Yes, the NASA ADS API is free for academic and research purposes, though users need to register for an API key to access it.

? Does it require an API Key?

Yes, you must obtain an API key from the NASA ADS portal to authenticate all requests to the API.

? What is the response format?

The API returns responses in JSON format, including structured data like paper titles, authors, abstracts, citations, and publication details.

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Tool Info

Pricing Free

Category Science & Math

Platform Public API

Pros

⊕ Comprehensive Astrophysics Catalog
⊕ Free for Academic Use
⊕ Detailed Metadata Access
⊕ Supports Citation Tracking

Cons

⊖ Requires API Key Authentication
⊖ Rate Limits Apply
⊖ Limited to Astrophysics Domain