> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.astronomyapi.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.astronomyapi.com/api-v3-reference-draft/v3/search.md).

# Search

Find deep sky objects and stars

Searches the catalogue by name or by position.

Give `term` to search by name, or `rightAscension` and `declination` together to search by position. The two are mutually exclusive.

{% openapi src="/files/I36OyRpmo4rQOx2DuT1k" path="/search" method="get" %}
[astronomy-api-v3.yaml](https://1238588302-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2F-MKQ7_I-c79Ln1c6Chop-3789850253%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-c743ca2b9574a9aee2b1314404f74fd87c7a6cfc%2Fastronomy-api-v3.yaml?alt=media)
{% endopenapi %}

## Changes from v2

| v2                                         | v3                                        |
| ------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------- |
| `match_type`                               | `matchType`                               |
| `order_by`                                 | `orderBy`                                 |
| `ra`, `dec` (strings)                      | `rightAscension`, `declination` (numbers) |
| `limit`, `offset` declared as strings      | declared as integers                      |
| `position.equatorial.rightAscension.hours` | `rightAscension`                          |
| `position.equatorial.declination.degrees`  | `declination`                             |
| `*.string`                                 | `formatted.*`, with `include=formatted`   |

v2 declared `limit` and `offset` as strings because query parameters arrive as text. v3 declares the type it means and does the conversion itself.

## Examples

By name:

```
GET /api/v3/search?term=andromeda&matchType=fuzzy&limit=10
```

By position:

```
GET /api/v3/search?rightAscension=0.712&declination=41.269
```