Build/Astronomy
🔭Astronomy Namespace

JPL-grade sky data.
Build something people love to look up.

Over 35 million Americans own a telescope. Eclipse tourism generated $1B+ for the US economy in 2024. APlicious uses the astronomy-engine library — the same JPL precision used in professional tools — to deliver 13 endpoints for planet positions, eclipses, moon phases, rise/set times, and more.

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4 businesses you can build this month

Astrophotographers need to plan shoots around darkness, moon phase, and specific celestial events. StarGaze gives a location-specific 30-day sky events calendar: New Moons (darkest skies), planet oppositions, notable conjunctions, eclipse alerts, and ISS pass times. The premium tier adds alerts via push notification. Astrophotography is a $1B+ hobby market with a dedicated, high-spending community.

Pricing Model
$4.99/month or $34.99/year
Build Time
2–3 weeks
Revenue Target
$2,500/month
Gross Margin
99.8% gross margin
Revenue Math

600 × $34.99 = $20,994 ARR → $1,750/mo average. Mix: 400 annual + 200 monthly at $4.99 = $2,165. Astrophotographers spend $500–$5K on equipment — $35/year for planning software is an easy yes. Compare: PhotoPills (photography planner) has 500K+ paid users at $9.99.

Endpoints Used
/astronomy/sky-events
/astronomy/moon-phase
/astronomy/planetary-visibility
/astronomy/rise-set
APlicious Cost
$9 (Starter — 600 × 3 = 1,800/mo)
3 calls/month (weekly check-in) per user

Starter code — StarGaze

stargaze.ts
// StarGaze — Sky Events Planner
// Built with APlicious Astronomy namespace
// Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your key from aplicious.com/dashboard

const API_BASE = "https://aplicious.com/api/v1";
const API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY";

async function getSkyBrief(lat: number, lon: number) {
  const [skyEvents, moonPhase, visibility] = await Promise.all([
    fetch(`${API_BASE}/astronomy/sky-events?datetime=${new Date().toISOString()}`, {
      headers: { "x-api-key": API_KEY },
    }).then(r => r.json()),

    fetch(`${API_BASE}/astronomy/moon-phase?datetime=${new Date().toISOString()}`, {
      headers: { "x-api-key": API_KEY },
    }).then(r => r.json()),

    fetch(`${API_BASE}/astronomy/planetary-visibility?datetime=${new Date().toISOString()}&lat=${lat}&lon=${lon}`, {
      headers: { "x-api-key": API_KEY },
    }).then(r => r.json()),
  ]);

  return {
    upcomingEvents: skyEvents.data.upcoming_sky_events.slice(0, 5),
    moonPhase: moonPhase.data.phase_name,          // "Waning Gibbous"
    moonIllumination: moonPhase.data.illumination_percent, // 80
    visiblePlanets: visibility.data.planets.filter(p => p.visible),
  };
}

All 13 endpoints

/planet-positionsRA/Dec + ecliptic for all planets
/rise-setRise, set, transit for any body + location
/moon-phasePhase, illumination, distance, next phases
/eclipsesNext solar or lunar eclipse + peak time
/equinox-solsticePrecise times for all 4 seasonal markers
/elongationMercury/Venus max elongation from Sun
/distanceEarth-to-body distance in AU and km
/conjunctionsUpcoming planetary conjunctions
/seasonsSeason dates for north/south hemisphere
/solar-noonSolar noon time by location
/perihelion-aphelionEarth's closest/farthest from Sun
/lunar-distanceMoon's current distance and perigee/apogee
/planetary-visibilityWhich planets are visible tonight
/sky-events30-day upcoming sky events calendar
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