OrbitalWiki vs Heavens-Above
A long-standing astronomy and pass-prediction site for observers. Excellent sky charts, no public API and no bulk data.
Side by side with Heavens-Above
| Feature | OrbitalWiki | Heavens-Above |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | OrbitalWiki | Chris Peat, Heavens-Above GmbH |
| Account required | No | No |
| Machine-readable API | Yes | No |
| Bulk download | Yes | No |
| Free limit | No key needed to read; 1,000 requests a day with a free key | No API to limit |
| Data terms | ODbL-1.0, attribution required | Website terms; no data feed offered |
| Per-field source shown | Yes | No |
Provider documentation checked 2026-08-03.
When to use Heavens-Above instead
When you are going outside to look up. Heavens-Above is built for observers, with sky charts, star maps and pass times presented for the naked eye. Nothing here replaces that.
Go to Heavens-AboveWhen this catalog helps
When you need the data programmatically. There is no Heavens-Above API to call, so anything automated has to come from somewhere else. This is that somewhere else, with a REST API and downloadable releases.
Common questions
- Does Heavens-Above have an API?
- No public API and no bulk download are offered. It is a website and an Android app.
- How do I get Heavens-Above style data into my own app?
- You need a source with an API. This catalog publishes REST endpoints and downloadable releases; pass prediction you compute yourself, or take from a tracker that offers it.
- Is Heavens-Above still maintained?
- Yes. It is run by Chris Peat under Heavens-Above GmbH.