Stars Lookup

Overview

Requests accept a specific star name or astronomical classification, such as spectral codes, spectral classes, or categories like red dwarf and supergiant. Classification queries return up to ten matching entries. Each record supplies mass in kilograms, distance in light-years, and stellar classification, while paid plans add surface temperature, diameter, hex color codes, and 3D galactic coordinates.

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

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curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/starslookup?name=Sirius" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

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const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/starslookup?name=Sirius', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

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import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/starslookup?name=Sirius",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

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package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/starslookup?name=Sirius", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

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{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "starName": "Sirius",
    "mass": 4.674385e+30,
    "diameter": 2825760,
    "galX": -5.895,
    "galY": -6.152,
    "galZ": -1.167,
    "dist": 8.6,
    "starType": "A1(V)",
    "temp": 9500,
    "color": "0xbaccff"
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Use cases

Planetarium Display Systems

Stargazing apps query star names to show visitors distance from Earth, stellar classification, and real celestial mass during live sky tours.

Sci-Fi Worldbuilding

To build believable galaxy maps, game developers pull spectral classes like red dwarf or main sequence to seed star systems with authentic physics.

Astronomy Curriculum Portals

When students compare celestial bodies, digital textbooks pull mass in kilograms and stellar types to demonstrate the Hertzsprung-Russell relationship.

Telescope Calibration Software

Align optical tracking mounts by looking up known reference stars to verify catalog identity and light-year distance against visual field observations.

Other ways to use Stars Lookup

Set up Stars Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Related

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