DESI MCP Server

Name: DESI MCP Server
Author: SandyYuan

@SandyYuan

Repository

About DESI MCP Server

mcp server for desi and other surveys

#astro-mcp #mcp-server #desi-survey

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "astro_mcp": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "server.py"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

No tools detected

We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.

Overview

What is DESI MCP Server?

An MCP server providing fast, comprehensive access to DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument) survey data through dual access methods: Data Lab SQL queries (default) and SPARCL client (backup). It is designed for AI assistants and researchers to search and retrieve DESI spectroscopic data.

How to use DESI MCP Server?

Install dependencies with pip install mcp sparclclient datalab. Run the server with python server.py. Configure as an MCP client using the JSON snippet provided. Invoke tools via MCP, e.g., search_objects(ra=9.9443, dec=41.7221, object_types=["GALAXY"]) or get_spectrum_by_id(sparcl_id="1270d3c4-9d36-11ee-94ad-525400ad1336", format="full").

Key features of DESI MCP Server

Accurate distance sorting for coordinate searches
No result limits via Data Lab SQL
Fast queries with Q3C spatial indexing
Cross-survey access (DESI + BOSS + SDSS) via SPARCL
Complete spectral data with wavelength/flux arrays and uncertainties
Async support for large datasets (>100k results)

Use cases of DESI MCP Server

Search for DESI objects by coordinate (nearest, cone, box)
Retrieve full spectrum data by SPARCL UUID for analysis
Filter objects by type (galaxy, quasar, star), redshift, and data release
Cross‑survey queries including BOSS and SDSS

FAQ from DESI MCP Server

What data does DESI MCP Server cover?

DESI DR1 (∼18+ million spectra), DESI EDR (∼1.8 million spectra), and cross‑surveys BOSS DR16, SDSS DR16 via SPARCL. Sky coverage ∼14,000 sq deg, wavelength range 360–980 nm, spectral resolution R∼2000–5500.