Nina_advanced_api_mcp

Interface for AI agents to use your astrophotography setup using N.I.N.A (Beta)

N.I.N.A Model Context Protocol Server for Advanced API Plugin v2 (MCP)

A powerful interface for controlling N.I.N.A. (Nighttime Imaging 'N' Astronomy) software through its Advanced API NINA Advanced API . This Model Context Protocol Server (MCP) enables AI agents to interact with NINA using tools, providing new way to interact with your setup. Usage with your own responsibility.

🌟 Features

• Complete Equipment Control for AI agents

  • Cameras (capture, cooling, settings, connecting ....)

  • Mounts (slewing, parking, tracking...)

  • Focusers (movement, temperature compensation ... )

  • Filter Wheels (filter selection, info ...)

  • Domes (rotation, shutter control ...)

  • Rotators (movement, sync...)

  • ...

• AI Integration

  • Natural language command processing

  • Contextual help system

  • Intelligent error responses

  • Automated decision making

• **Most of the NINA advanced API v2 api interface endpoints supported

Related MCP server: Video Still Capture MCP

🚀 Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8 or higher

• NINA software with Advanced API plugin

• uv package manager

• AI agent with MCP support (e.g., Claude)

Installation

1. Install NINA Advanced API Plugin

   # Install the plugins in NINA
   # Enable and configure in NINA settings

2. Clone Repository

   git clone https://github.com/PaDev1/Nina_advanced_api_mcp.git
   cd nina-mcp

3. Set Environment Variables

   # Create .env file
   NINA_HOST=your_nina_host
   NINA_PORT=1888
   LOG_LEVEL=INFO
   IMAGE_SAVE_DIR=~/Desktop/NINA_Images

Configuration

MCP Server Setup

Add to your AI agent's MCP configuration:

{
  "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": "NINA_IP",
        "NINA_PORT": "1888",
        "LOG_LEVEL": "INFO",
        "IMAGE_SAVE_DIR": "~/Desktop/NINA_Images"
      }
    }
  }
}

📚 Usage

Basic AI Examples with Claude Destop

• Connect to nina

• read the setup

• connect my camera, mount, filter wheel and guider

• read the sequesces and let me select the sequence to start

AI Agent Commands

- "Take a 30-second exposure of M31"
- "Connect all equipment and start cooling the camera to -10°C"
- "Start a sequence targeting NGC 7000"
- "Get the current equipment status"

📖 API Documentation

Core Modules

Equipment Control

• Camera operations

• Mount control

• Focuser management

• Filter wheel control

• Dome automation

• Rotator functions

Imaging

• Capture configuration

• Image processing

• File management

• Statistics gathering

System

• Connection handling

• Status monitoring

• Error management

• Configuration

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please read our Contributing Guidelines first.

1. Fork the repository

2. Create your feature branch

3. Commit your changes

4. Push to the branch

5. Create a Pull Request

🐛 Bug Reports

Found a bug? Please open an issue with:

• Detailed description

• Steps to reproduce

• Expected vs actual behavior

• System information

📜 License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• NINA - The core astronomy software

• NINA Advanced API - API documentation

🔗 Related Projects

• Touch'N'Stars - WebApp for Mobile Control of NINA

• NINA Plugins - Official NINA plugin repository