NASA-MCP

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• src/nasa_mcp/server.py:963-1045 (handler)

  The handler function for the 'get_epic_imagery_by_date' tool. It fetches EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) images from the NASA API for a given date and collection, processes the JSON response, constructs image archive URLs, and returns a formatted string summary with details and links.

  @mcp.tool()
  async def get_epic_imagery_by_date(date: str, collection: str = "natural") -> str:
      """Get images from the EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) for a specific date.
      
      Args:
          date: Date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
          collection: Collection type. Options: natural, enhanced.
      """
      if collection not in ["natural", "enhanced"]:
          return "Invalid collection. Available options: natural, enhanced."
      
      # Use the 'date' endpoint to get images for a specific date
      api_path = f"/EPIC/api/{collection}/date/{date}"
      
      url = f"{NASA_API_BASE}{api_path}"
      data = await make_nasa_request(url)
      
      if not data: 
          return f"Could not retrieve EPIC images for date {date} due to a connection error."
      
      # Check for error response (must be a dictionary)
      if isinstance(data, dict):
          if "error" in data:
              return f"API Error: {data.get('error')} - Details: {data.get('details', 'N/A')}"
          if data.get("binary_content"):
              return f"Received unexpected binary content from EPIC API. URL: {data.get('url')}"
      
      # Ensure data is a list
      if not isinstance(data, list):
          logger.error(f"Unexpected non-list response from EPIC API: {data}")
          return "Received unexpected data format from EPIC API."
  
      try:
          if not data:  # Empty list
              return f"No EPIC images available for the specified date ({date})."
          
          result = [f"EPIC images found for date {date}: {len(data)}"]
          display_limit = 10
          count = 0
          
          for image_meta in data:
              if count >= display_limit:
                  result.append(f"n... and {len(data) - display_limit} more images.")
                  break
  
              image_date_time = image_meta.get('date', 'Unknown')
              image_identifier = image_meta.get('identifier', 'Unknown') # Use identifier if available
              image_name = image_meta.get('image', 'Unknown') # Base name like epic_1b_... 
              
              # Build image URL
              if image_date_time != 'Unknown' and image_name != 'Unknown':
                  try:
                      # Extract date parts for URL path
                      dt_obj = datetime.strptime(image_date_time, '%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
                      year, month, day = dt_obj.strftime('%Y'), dt_obj.strftime('%m'), dt_obj.strftime('%d')
                      # Construct archive URL
                      archive_url = f"https://api.nasa.gov/EPIC/archive/{collection}/{year}/{month}/{day}/png/{image_name}.png"
                      # Add API key for direct access
                      image_url_with_key = f"{archive_url}?api_key={API_KEY}"
                  except ValueError:
                      logger.warning(f"Could not parse date {image_date_time} for EPIC image URL construction.")
                      image_url_with_key = "URL construction failed"
              else:
                  image_url_with_key = "URL not available"
  
              result.append(f"nIdentifier: {image_identifier}")
              result.append(f"Date/Time: {image_date_time}")
              result.append(f"Caption: {image_meta.get('caption', 'No caption')}")
              result.append(f"Image Name: {image_name}")
              result.append(f"Archive URL: {image_url_with_key}")
              
              # Coordinates
              coords = image_meta.get('centroid_coordinates', {})
              if coords:
                  result.append(f"Centroid Coordinates: Lat {coords.get('lat', 'N/A')}, Lon {coords.get('lon', 'N/A')}")
              
              result.append("-" * 40)
              count += 1
              
          return "n".join(result)
      except Exception as e:
          logger.error(f"Error processing EPIC image data: {str(e)}")
          return f"Error processing EPIC image data: {str(e)}"