N.I.N.A. Advanced API

N.I.N.A. Advanced API is an MCP server that provides an interface between AI agents and Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy (N.I.N.A.) astrophotography software. Built for amateur and professional astronomers using AI assistants like Claude, it bridges natural language commands to the N.I.N.A. Advanced API plugin v2. Through this integration, users can automate and orchestrate full astrophotography equipment chains directly from an LLM prompt. The server supports comprehensive hardware management across telescope mounts, imaging cameras, motorized focusers, filter wheels, rotators, and observatory domes. In addition to hardware toggles like cooling cameras or slewing mounts to celestial targets, the server handles operational monitoring, automated imaging sequences, status reporting, and file path handling. By translating high-level astronomical instructions into specific endpoint calls, the server gives LLMs context-aware visibility and remote control over ongoing imaging sessions, target acquisitions, and observatory infrastructure.

Category: Other & General Purpose

Tags: astronomy, astrophotography, imaging, nina, telescope

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How to install and configure N.I.N.A. Advanced API

1. Install and enable the Advanced API plugin within your N.I.N.A. application settings. 2. Clone the repository: bash git clone https://github.com/PaDev1/Nina_advanced_api_mcp.git cd nina-mcp 3. Ensure Python 3.8+ and the uv tool are installed. 4. Add the server entry to your MCP client configuration (e.g., Claude Desktop claude_desktop_config.json): json { "mcpServers": { "nina_advanced_mcp_api": { "command": "uv", "args": [ "run", "--with", "fastmcp,fastapi,uvicorn,pydantic,aiohttp,requests,python-dotenv", "fastmcp", "run", "path/nina_advanced_mcp.py" ], "env": { "NINA_HOST": "your_nina_host", "NINA_PORT": "1888", "LOG_LEVEL": "INFO", "IMAGE_SAVE_DIR": "~/Desktop/NINA_Images" } } } } 5. Replace your_nina_host with your actual host IP address and path/nina_advanced_mcp.py with your file location, then restart your MCP client.

What you can do with N.I.N.A. Advanced API

• Slew the telescope mount directly to specified deep-sky targets like M31 or NGC 7000 using natural language. - Connect all astrophotography gear and cool the main camera sensor down to designated operating temperatures. - Query real-time status across telescope hardware including focusers, rotators, filter wheels, and observatory domes. - Trigger, monitor, and choose automated imaging sequences configured in N.I.N.A. using simple conversational prompts. - Capture individual exposure frames with specific exposure durations, filter configurations, and custom save directories.

Key facts

• https://github.com/PaDev1/Nina_advanced_api_mcp
• Other & General Purpose
• astronomy, astrophotography, imaging, nina, telescope

Part of MCP Servers

What is N.I.N.A. Advanced API?

N.I.N.A. Advanced API is a Model Context Protocol server that connects AI assistants to the Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy software. It enables AI tools to execute hardware control, run imaging operations, and manage astrophotography sequences.

What can N.I.N.A. Advanced API do?

The server controls connected astrophotography equipment including mounts, cameras, focusers, rotators, filter wheels, and domes. It allows agents to start sequences, set camera cooling, trigger exposures, track targets, and check equipment statuses.

How do I install N.I.N.A. Advanced API?

First install and activate the Advanced API plugin inside N.I.N.A. Next, clone the repository and configure your client to run the script via uv with required dependencies like fastmcp and fastapi, setting the host and port environment variables.

Which MCP clients work with N.I.N.A. Advanced API?

Any standard Model Context Protocol client works with this server, including Claude Desktop and custom AI agents that implement MCP server connection configurations.

Is N.I.N.A. Advanced API open source?

Yes, N.I.N.A. Advanced API is open source and distributed under the MIT License on GitHub.