Automated summary
Downloads the latest Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) from NASA and saves it to the desktop with metadata.
Strengths
- Automates daily retrieval of a popular astronomy image
- Generates a text file with title and description
- Handles video content gracefully by notifying the user
Limitations
- Requires Python libraries requests and BeautifulSoup
- Only works if the NASA website is reachable
- Overwrites existing files without warning
When the user wants a quick way to get today's NASA astronomy picture.
When the user needs images from other sources or older archives.
Security analysis
CautionThe skill executes a Python script that fetches content from NASA's website and saves files locally. Network access and file writes are legitimate and to a trusted domain. No destructive or exfiltrating actions are performed.
No concerns found
How this analysis is madeExamples
Download today's APODGet the astronomy picture of the dayFetch NASA's picture of the dayname: apod description: Download the latest Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA. Use when the user asks to download APOD, get today's astronomy picture, fetch NASA's picture of the day, or save astronomy images.
APOD - Astronomy Picture of the Day Downloader
Overview
This skill downloads the latest Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) from NASA's website and saves it to your Desktop along with metadata.
Instructions
When the user requests to download APOD or get today's astronomy picture:
-
Run the download script:
python3 ~/.claude/skills/apod/download_apod.py -
The script will:
- Fetch the latest APOD from https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
- Download the high-resolution image
- Save it to
~/Desktop/APOD/APOD_YYYY-MM-DD.{ext} - Create a metadata file
~/Desktop/APOD/APOD_YYYY-MM-DD.txtwith title, description, and date
-
Report the result to the user, including:
- Success/failure status
- File paths where the image and metadata were saved
- Any errors encountered
Requirements
The following Python packages must be installed:
pip install requests beautifulsoup4
Special Cases
- Videos: If APOD is a video (YouTube embed), the script will notify the user and skip the download
- Network errors: Clear error messages will be displayed if the website is unreachable
- Existing files: If today's APOD has already been downloaded, it will be overwritten
Examples
User request: "Download today's APOD" Action: Run the script and report that the image was saved to ~/Desktop/APOD/APOD_2025-12-19.png
User request: "Get the astronomy picture of the day" Action: Run the script and confirm the download with file locations
User request: "Fetch NASA's picture of the day" Action: Run the script and show the image title and save location
From the file to a first result
The download contains exactly the content displayed on this page. This copy may differ from the latest version in the source repository.
View the source and supporting filesThis download contains SKILL.md only. Any scripts, references, templates and dependencies are not included. Get the required files from the source, preserving their directory structure, before continuing.
1. Download the file
Download SKILL.mdFrom the root of a test project, save the file as .skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md, or use the command below. This folder is for inspecting the skill before installation.
Command for macOS/Linux or WSL: requires a POSIX shell and curl. On Windows without WSL, use the download button and create the folder manually.
mkdir -p '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2' && curl --fail --show-error --location 'https://skills-guides.com/api/skills/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/download' --output '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md.part' && mv '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md.part' '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md'2. Check prerequisites
Read SKILL.md before using it. If it references scripts or external services, inspect them and prepare the required access in your test environment.
Original excerpt: Requirements
The following Python packages must be installed:
pip install requests beautifulsoup4
The platforms on this page are catalog indications. The paths below follow tool documentation; they do not prove this skill has been run in those tools. No minimum tool version is confirmed for this listing.
3. Load the skill
After inspection, copy the complete folder into your project using one of the commands below, then open a new tool session. The command stops if a folder with the same name already exists: compare the files before replacing it.
Claude Code
test -f '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md' && test -s '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md' && mkdir -p '.claude/skills' && test ! -e '.claude/skills/apod' && cp -R '.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2' '.claude/skills/apod'OpenSkills
OpenSkills must already be installed. The local install/read procedure is checked with OpenSkills 1.5.0, which requires Node.js ≥ 20.6.0. Catalog slugs are not resolved automatically.
Official OpenSkills installationopenskills install './.skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2'openskills read 'apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2'Reading should display the installed file content and its base directory. It does not run the skill or install its dependencies.
For an agent that reads AGENTS.md, then sync the index. This command changes AGENTS.md: review the diff before using it.
openskills syncManual method or another tool: attach SKILL.md to a conversation, or open it in an agent that can read files. Include any required supporting resources. No universal folder is recognized by every tool.
4. Try a first task
Use a short, synthetic input: an API endpoint, a small document or an interface brief. In a new conversation, attach the file or give the agent its path, then adapt this request:
Read .skill-downloads/apod-astronomy-picture-of-the-day-downloader-mm78nnw2/SKILL.md and apply its instructions to this example: [describe a test input]. Identify any missing files, dependencies or access. Produce the result requested by the skill without inventing data or running unreviewed scripts.Expected result: output matching the skill instructions, or a precise list of missing prerequisites. A read confirmation alone does not validate a first use. If an external resource is unavailable, that path remains untested.
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