Roche limit API

Returns the rigid (1.26) and fluid (2.44) Roche limits — the distance inside which tidal forces tear a satellite apart — from the primary's radius and density and the satellite's density. Answers 'How close can a moon orbit before breaking up?', 'Roche limit for these densities?'.

Price$0.06per request

MethodPOST

Route/v1/space/roche-limit

StatusLive

MIME typeapplication/json

Rate limit120/minute

Cache0s public

spaceastronomyroche-limittidal-forcering-systemsatellite-breakupphysicsastrodynamics

API URLhttps://x402.hexl.dev/v1/space/roche-limit

Integration docs

Example request

{
  "primaryRadiusM": 60268000,
  "primaryDensityKgM3": 687,
  "satelliteDensityKgM3": 1000
}

Example response

{
  "primaryRadiusM": 60268000,
  "primaryDensityKgM3": 687,
  "satelliteDensityKgM3": 1000,
  "rocheLimitRigidM": 67005363.939,
  "rocheLimitRigidKm": 67005.3639,
  "rocheLimitFluidM": 129756419.057,
  "rocheLimitFluidKm": 129756.4191,
  "interpretation": "A satellite is torn apart inside ~67005–129756 km (rigid–fluid)."
}

Input schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "primaryRadiusM",
    "primaryDensityKgM3",
    "satelliteDensityKgM3"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "primaryRadiusM": {
      "type": "number",
      "examples": [
        60268000
      ]
    },
    "primaryDensityKgM3": {
      "type": "number",
      "examples": [
        687
      ]
    },
    "satelliteDensityKgM3": {
      "type": "number",
      "examples": [
        1000
      ]
    }
  }
}

Output schema

{
  "type": "object",
  "additionalProperties": true
}