OpenEphemeris MCP Server

Use it in Claude: add https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp as a custom connector (leave the OAuth Client ID and Secret blank) or install the Open Ephemeris plugin from the Claude directory. Sign-in happens in the browser and creates a free account with 150 credits.

Model Context Protocol server for OpenEphemeris — typed astrology tools powered by the NASA JPL DE440 ephemeris. Zero hallucination on planetary positions, dates, and degrees. Covers 1,100 years of astronomical data.

Hosted endpoint: https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, MCP 2025-11-25 spec)

Quick Start

Install via Smithery (recommended)

The fastest way to connect any MCP-compatible client:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @open-ephemeris/openephemeris --client claude

Or browse the listing and copy connection snippets: smithery.ai/servers/open-ephemeris/openephemeris

---

Connect via AI SDK (Vercel AI SDK)

import Smithery from "@smithery/api"
import { createMCPClient } from "@ai-sdk/mcp"
import { generateText } from "ai"
import { anthropic } from "@ai-sdk/anthropic"
import { createConnection } from "@smithery/api/mcp"

const smithery = new Smithery()

const conn = await smithery.connections.create("{your-namespace}", {
  mcpUrl: "https://server.smithery.ai/open-ephemeris/openephemeris",
  headers: {
    apiKey: "your-openephemeris-api-key", // get one free at openephemeris.com/dashboard
  },
})

const { transport } = await createConnection({
  client: smithery,
  namespace: "{your-namespace}",
  connectionId: conn.connectionId,
})

const mcpClient = await createMCPClient({ transport })
const tools = await mcpClient.tools()

const { text } = await generateText({
  model: anthropic("claude-sonnet-4-20250514"),
  tools,
  prompt: "Calculate a natal chart for someone born April 15, 1990 at 2:30 PM in Chicago.",
})

await mcpClient.close()

Connect via MCP SDK (TypeScript)

import Smithery from "@smithery/api"
import { Client } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js"
import { createConnection } from "@smithery/api/mcp"

const smithery = new Smithery()

const conn = await smithery.connections.create("{your-namespace}", {
  mcpUrl: "https://server.smithery.ai/open-ephemeris/openephemeris",
  headers: {
    apiKey: "your-openephemeris-api-key",
  },
})

const { transport } = await createConnection({
  client: smithery,
  namespace: "{your-namespace}",
  connectionId: conn.connectionId,
})

const mcpClient = new Client(
  { name: "my-app", version: "1.0.0" },
  { capabilities: {} }
)
await mcpClient.connect(transport)

const { tools } = await mcpClient.listTools()
const result = await mcpClient.callTool({
  name: "ephemeris_natal_chart",
  // A datetime that states a clock time must state its zone: either pass
  // `timezone` alongside the local time, or put a Z/±HH:MM offset on the value.
  arguments: {
    datetime: "1990-04-15T14:30:00",
    timezone: "America/Chicago",
    latitude: 41.8781,
    longitude: -87.6298,
    format: "llm",
  },
})

Connect directly (Streamable HTTP, no Smithery)

import { StreamableHTTPClientTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/streamableHttp.js"
import { Client } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/client/index.js"

const transport = new StreamableHTTPClientTransport(
  new URL("https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp"),
  { requestInit: { headers: { "X-API-Key": "your-openephemeris-api-key" } } }
)

const client = new Client({ name: "my-app", version: "1.0.0" }, { capabilities: {} })
await client.connect(transport)

---

One-click install (Cursor)

Replace YOUR_API_KEY_HERE in Cursor MCP settings with your API key from https://openephemeris.com/dashboard.

Cursor deeplink payload:

{
  "command": "npx",
  "args": [
    "-y",
    "@openephemeris/mcp-server"
  ],
  "env": {
    "OPENEPHEMERIS_PROFILE": "dev",
    "OPENEPHEMERIS_BACKEND_URL": "https://api.openephemeris.com",
    "OPENEPHEMERIS_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
  }
}

Manual install (stdio MCP clients)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openephemeris": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@openephemeris/mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "OPENEPHEMERIS_PROFILE": "dev",
        "OPENEPHEMERIS_BACKEND_URL": "https://api.openephemeris.com",
        "OPENEPHEMERIS_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Platform guide

Detailed setup walkthroughs for each platform are in SETUP.md.

Client	Install mode	Config location
Smithery	One-click	smithery.ai
Cursor	One-click deeplink or manual	~/.cursor/mcp.json
Claude Desktop (macOS)	Manual	~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Claude Desktop (Windows)	Manual	%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Windsurf	Manual	~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json (or legacy ~/.codeium/mcp_config.json)
ChatGPT	One-click	Open Ephemeris in the ChatGPT app directory
Claude Web / remote clients	Hosted URL	https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp

Client install walkthroughs

1. Cursor
   • Click the "Install in Cursor" button above, then replace YOUR_API_KEY_HERE in Cursor MCP settings.
   • If you prefer manual setup, paste the mcpServers.openephemeris block from "Manual install" into ~/.cursor/mcp.json.
2. Claude Desktop (macOS/Windows)
   • Open the platform config file from the table above.
   • Add the same mcpServers.openephemeris block from "Manual install".
   • Restart Claude Desktop.
3. Windsurf
   • Open ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json (or the legacy ~/.codeium/mcp_config.json path).
   • Add the mcpServers.openephemeris block from "Manual install".
   • Restart Windsurf.

Remote-only clients (Claude Web, ChatGPT, etc.)

The server is hosted at https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp with full Streamable HTTP support (MCP 2025-11-25 spec). Remote-only clients can connect directly — no bridge/proxy required:

• Claude Web: Add https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp as a custom connector URL — leave OAuth Client ID and Secret blank. The server uses OAuth 2.1 + PKCE (Dynamic Client Registration), so Claude handles authentication via a browser popup automatically.
• ChatGPT: Open Ephemeris is an approved app in the ChatGPT app directory. Open the listing, click Install plugin, approve the sign-in (that also creates your free OpenEphemeris account), then type @Open Ephemeris in any chat. Charts render inline, exactly as they do in Claude. Prefer to wire it yourself? Settings → Plugins → Advanced → Developer mode → + Create app accepts https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp with Authentication on OAuth — no client ID or secret to enter.
• Via Smithery: Use the Smithery listing for managed connections with any client
• Legacy SSE: retired in 3.20.0 — use Streamable HTTP at /mcp

Auth and upgrade behavior in MCP clients

• Missing/invalid credentials (401): tool call fails with a message that points users to sign up/sign in at https://openephemeris.com/login?signup=true&redirect=%2Fdashboard%3Ftab%3Daccount, then create/manage keys in https://openephemeris.com/dashboard?tab=account.
• Tier-gated endpoint (403): tool call returns an upgrade-required message with https://openephemeris.com/pay and dashboard billing/key management link.
• Out of credits (402): tool call returns a one-tap top-up link (Explorer's 150 free credits are one-time and do not reset; plan allowances renew each billing period) plus the dashboard usage link. Failed calls (any 4xx/5xx) are refunded.
• Burst/rate limit (429): tool call returns retry guidance and links to dashboard usage monitoring.

What You Can Ask

"Calculate a natal chart for 1990-04-15 at 2:30 PM in Chicago."
"Find all Saturn transits to my natal Sun in the next 6 months."
"Get the current moon phase and void-of-course status."
"Find the next solar eclipse visible from Tokyo."
"Find the best time to sign a contract in March — electional window."
"Generate a Human Design chart for my birth data."
"What is my Vedic (sidereal) chart?"
"Calculate my Chinese BaZi (Four Pillars) chart."
"Show me my Astrocartography power lines — where is my Venus line on the map?"
"Find all ACG lines within 3° of Paris for my chart."
"Calculate a synastry chart between two people."
"Find the next Venus Star Point and my relationship to it."
"What are the active planetary stations in the next 3 months?"
"Calculate primary directions for the next 5 years."
"Find my Firdaria time lord period."
"What is the sidereal time and delta-T right now?"

Interactive Charts

Nine of the tools don't answer with JSON. They open a chart in the conversation — a real one, drawn from the same calculation, that you can click around in.

This matters more than it sounds. A natal chart returned as JSON is a list of numbers you have to already understand to read. The same chart rendered as a wheel is something you can point at. Click a planet and you get that placement explained; click a house and you get what's in it. The chart stays on screen while you keep talking, and it doesn't cost another credit to keep looking at it.

These need a host that supports MCP Apps. Claude and ChatGPT both do, and they render the same widget — there is no separate ChatGPT build. MCP Apps (SEP-1865) was co-authored by Anthropic and OpenAI and became the first official MCP extension in January 2026, so one ui:// resource serves both. In ChatGPT, install it from the app directory; in Claude, add the connector (see SETUP.md).

In a client without app support the same tools still work; you get the underlying data instead of the picture, so nothing breaks, you just don't get the wheel.

Tool	What opens	What you can click	Credits
explore_natal_chart	Natal wheel — planets, houses, aspects, angles	Planets, houses, aspect lines; recalculate with new settings	1
explore_bi_wheel	Two charts on one wheel: transits, synastry, progressions	Either wheel's planets, houses, and the aspects between them	2 (6 for solar/lunar return)
explore_human_design	Human Design bodygraph, with a mandala view toggle	Centers, gates, channels, planets, variables	4
explore_human_design_transit	Today's planets laid over a natal bodygraph	Transit-activated channels	5
explore_human_design_connection	Two bodygraphs combined, every shared channel classified	Connection channels by type	5
explore_vedic_chart	South Indian Rashi grid — sidereal placements and Lagna	Each rashi, for its placements and nakshatras	3
explore_bazi_chart	Four Pillars (四柱命盘) — Year, Month, Day, Hour	Each pillar	3
explore_transit_timeline	Upcoming transit hits in date order	Individual hits	6 for up to 1 year (priced by span)
explore_moon_phase	Moon dial — illumination, phase, sign, void-of-course	Recalculate for another moment	3

Ask for these the way you'd ask a person: "show me my chart", "put today's transits over my Human Design", "what's the moon doing right now". The model picks the app.

Two things worth knowing. The chart wheel and bi-wheel accept a click on an aspect line, not just on the two planets it joins — so "why does this line matter" is one click rather than a paragraph of setup. And the bodygraph's mandala toggle rearranges the whole chart into concentric rings without another API call, so switching views is free.

Tools at a Glance

Category	Tool	Tier
Natal chart	ephemeris_natal_chart	Explorer
Transit forecast	ephemeris_transits	Explorer
Transit chart snapshot	ephemeris_natal_transits	Explorer
Moon phase / VOC	ephemeris_moon_phase	Explorer
Eclipse next visible	ephemeris_next_eclipse	Explorer
Electional window	ephemeris_electional	Pro
Moment analysis	electional_moment_analysis	Explorer
Station tracker	electional_station_tracker	Explorer
Aspect search	electional_aspect_search	Pro
Human Design chart	human_design_chart	Explorer
HD composite	human_design_composite	Explorer
HD transit overlay	explore_human_design_transit	Explorer
HD connection (synastry)	explore_human_design_connection	Explorer
HD penta	human_design_penta	Explorer
HD return / opposition	hd_planetary_return, hd_opposition	Explorer
Vedic chart	vedic_chart	Explorer
BaZi (Chinese)	chinese_bazi	Explorer
Synastry	ephemeris_synastry	Explorer
Composite chart	ephemeris_composite	Explorer
Relocation chart	ephemeris_relocation	Explorer
Progressed chart	ephemeris_progressed_chart	Explorer
Solar return	ephemeris_solar_return	Explorer
Lunar return	ephemeris_lunar_return	Explorer
Planetary return	ephemeris_planetary_return	Explorer
Astrocartography lines	acg_power_lines	Pro
ACG hits at location	acg_hits	Pro
Venus Star Points	venus_star_points + 4 more	Explorer
Chart wheel image	ephemeris_chart_wheel	Explorer
Bi-wheel image	ephemeris_bi_wheel	Explorer
Dignities / Midpoints / Fixed stars	ephemeris_dignities, ephemeris_midpoints, ephemeris_fixed_stars	Explorer

Tooling Model

• Typed tools are preferred for common workflows (natal, transits, moon phase, eclipse, synastry, relocation, electional, Human Design).
• Generic tools: dev_list_allowed returns all currently allowlisted operations; dev_read_api invokes allowlisted GET (read) operations and dev_write_api invokes allowlisted POST/PUT/PATCH/DELETE (write/compute) operations, each by method + path. Read and write are kept as separate tools so a safe read surface never shares a tool with state-changing writes.
• Security model: default-deny with explicit allowlist in config/dev-allowlist.json.
• Deny prefixes block sensitive route families (/auth, /billing, /admin, etc.).

dev_read_api / dev_write_api input

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
method	dev_read_api: GET · dev_write_api: POST|PUT|PATCH|DELETE	No	HTTP method (defaults to the tool's natural method)
path	string	Yes	Absolute API path, e.g. /ephemeris/natal-chart
query	object	No	Query parameters
body	object	No	JSON body for non-GET requests
preset	full|simple	No	Convenience mapping to query.preset
format	json|llm|llm_v2	No	Convenience mapping to query.format (llm_v2 normalizes to llm)
output_mode	full|simple|llm|llm_v2	No	Legacy compatibility field

Environment Variables

Variable	Required	Description
OPENEPHEMERIS_API_KEY	Yes (unless service key/JWT used)	API key for OpenEphemeris
ASTROMCP_API_KEY	No	Legacy alias for OPENEPHEMERIS_API_KEY (checked as fallback)
OPENEPHEMERIS_BACKEND_URL	No	Defaults to https://api.openephemeris.com
OPENEPHEMERIS_PROFILE	No	dev by default
OPENEPHEMERIS_TOOLS	No	core (default) advertises a focused everyday tool set; full advertises every tool. See Tool surface
OPENEPHEMERIS_TELEMETRY	No	Set to 0/false/off to disable anonymous usage reporting. DO_NOT_TRACK=1 also works. See Telemetry
OPENEPHEMERIS_JWT	No	Bearer token auth
OPENEPHEMERIS_DEV_ALLOWLIST_PATH	No	Override allowlist file path
MCP_USER_ID	No	Per-instance user identifier

Legacy aliases (ASTROMCP_*, MERIDIAN_*) remain supported.

Telemetry

This server reports anonymous usage so we know which tools are worth maintaining and which are broken. Three events: session start, tool call, tool error.

What is sent: the tool name, how long it took, error status, which MCP client connected (e.g. Claude Desktop, Cursor) and its version, the server version, and a stable id for the session: a one-way SHA-256 prefix of your API key, or your account ID when you sign in with OAuth.

What is never sent: your API key or token, birth data, dates, names, coordinates, tool arguments, or tool results. No request or response bodies, ever.

To turn it off — either works, checked before anything is sent:

OPENEPHEMERIS_TELEMETRY=0
# or the cross-tool standard
DO_NOT_TRACK=1

Tool surface

By default the server advertises a focused core set of everyday tools rather than the entire catalog. Large tool lists cost context and make model tool-selection worse, so the default is tuned for real conversations: one interactive app per tradition, the primary data tool per domain, geocoding, and the allowlist-gated generic proxy.

Nothing is removed. The surface is a filter on tools/list only — every tool stays registered and stays callable by name. If you know the tool you want, call it and it works, listed or not.

To advertise the full catalog:

OPENEPHEMERIS_TOOLS=full npx -y @openephemeris/mcp-server

On the remote HTTP server, append ?profile=full to the connector URL (or send X-OE-Tool-Surface: full):

https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp?profile=full

Toolsets by tradition

If you work in one tradition, ask for it by name instead of taking the general-purpose default. You get that tradition in full — including the long-tail tools the core set leaves out — for a fraction of the context.

OPENEPHEMERIS_TOOLS=hd npx -y @openephemeris/mcp-server        # Human Design
OPENEPHEMERIS_TOOLS=astrology,moon npx -y @openephemeris/mcp-server

https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp?profile=hd,bazi

Toolset	What it covers	Tools	Approx. tokens
astrology	Natal, transits, synastry, progressions, returns, relocation, dignities, midpoints, lots, fixed stars, composites	32	15,800
hd	Human Design charts, transits, connection charts, penta, bodygraph	14	7,800
bazi	Four Pillars, Ten Gods, element balance, luck pillars, compatibility	13	7,200
electional	Timing windows, angle crossings, stations, moment analysis	10	4,600
moon	Phases, void-of-course, eclipses	9	4,100
venus	Star points, phases, elongations, stations	11	3,700
acg	Astrocartography lines and hits	7	3,700
vedic	Jyotish Rashi chart	7	3,400
—	core (default)	36	19,100
—	full	70	34,600

Every selection also includes geocoding (location_search, timezone_resolve), account_usage, and the allowlist-gated proxy — so a birthplace is always resolvable and nothing is stranded.

Combine with commas; unknown names are ignored rather than rejected, so a typo degrades to a smaller surface instead of a dead connector. As with core/full, this only filters tools/list — every tool remains callable by name.

Why it matters: tool definitions are re-sent to the model on every pass. astrology,moon advertises the same number of tools as the default but costs ~1,700 fewer tokens per message and covers more of the tradition.

The surface is fixed when the session initializes — this server does not advertise tools.listChanged, so switching requires reconnecting. dev_list_allowed enumerates every operation reachable through the generic proxy regardless of surface.

Contributing & Support

• Something wrong with a result? Open an issue — include the tool, your inputs, and what you expected.
• Want to contribute? See CONTRIBUTING.md. Integration examples and new skills are the most useful things you can add.
• Found a security problem? Please report it privately — see SECURITY.md.
• Tools timing out? Check status.openephemeris.com first.

If this saved you from an LLM confidently inventing a Saturn position, a ⭐ helps other people find it.

Legal

This package is licensed under the MIT License. However, use of this package to access the OpenEphemeris API constitutes use of the Service and is governed by the OpenEphemeris Terms of Service. By using this package, you agree to those terms. See also the Privacy Policy and Acceptable Use Policy.

Development

The server source is maintained in a private monorepo; this repository holds the public docs, plugin, skills and examples. Bug reports and contributions are welcome — see CONTRIBUTING.md.

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    MCP Clients                          │
│  Smithery Gateway · Claude Web · ChatGPT · Remote apps  │
└──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                   │ Streamable HTTP (MCP 2025-11-25)
                   │ https://mcp.openephemeris.com/mcp
                   │
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│          Cursor · Claude Desktop · Windsurf             │
└──────────────────┬──────────────────────────────────────┘
                   │ stdio JSON-RPC
                   │ npx @openephemeris/mcp-server
                   │
              ┌────▼────────────────────┐
              │  openephemeris-mcp      │
              │  Node.js MCP Server     │
              │  typed tools            │
              │  auth: Key > JWT        │
              └────────────┬────────────┘
                           │ HTTPS
                           ▼
              ┌────────────────────────┐
              │  OpenEphemeris API     │
              │  api.openephemeris.com │
              │  NASA JPL DE440        │
              │  1,100 years of data   │
              └────────────────────────┘