---
id: asdf-astropy
version: "0.11.0"
license: unclear
license_treatment: unclear
maintenance: active
---

# asdf-astropy — ASDF serialization support for astropy

License: unclear · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 245.9K/mo

## What it is and what it does

asdf-astropy is a plugin package that extends the ASDF serialization framework to handle astropy objects. When installed, it automatically registers handlers that allow astropy data structures to be saved and loaded in ASDF format. The package supersedes the built-in astropy.io.misc.asdf module, which is deprecated.

The package depends on astropy, numpy, and the broader ASDF ecosystem (asdf, asdf-coordinates-schemas, asdf-transform-schemas, asdf-standard) to function. It requires Python >=3.11. Installation is straightforward via pip with no compiled dependencies, making it suitable for environments where you need to persist or exchange astropy objects in a standardized binary format.

Use it for:

- Save and load astropy objects in ASDF format for reproducible scientific workflows.
- Exchange astronomical data between Python and other tools that support ASDF without lossy conversion.
- Archive astropy datasets in a compact, schema-validated binary format that preserves metadata.
- Integrate astropy objects into ASDF-based data pipelines in observatories or research institutions.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides ASDF serialization plugins for astropy objects, enabling efficient binary storage and retrieval of astronomical data structures.

Yes, if you work with astropy and need to serialize its objects to ASDF format. The package is actively maintained, has low install friction, carries no known vulnerabilities, and is widely used. Install it when you require ASDF support for astropy; otherwise it is not necessary. Note: license classification is unclear in the metadata despite the description citing BSD 3-Clause—verify the actual license before use in proprietary contexts.

## Install

pip install asdf-astropy
uv add asdf-astropy
poetry add asdf-astropy

## Installing asdf-astropy

Before you install: Low install friction with a pure-wheel distribution. Actively maintained with last commit on 2026-08-03. Depends on seven runtime packages including astropy, numpy, and asdf ecosystem libraries.

Quickstart:

pip install asdf-astropy

import asdf
import astropy.coordinates

# Plugins are automatically enabled; use astropy and asdf normally
with asdf.open('data.asdf') as af:
    coord = af['coordinate']

Requires Python >=3.11

Verify before relying:

- License classification marked unclear in metadata despite description mentioning BSD 3-Clause; verify actual license terms before deployment.
- Whether these plugins fully replace the deprecated astropy.io.misc.asdf module for all use cases.
- Actual adoption and stability of the plugin system in production environments.

## Package facts

- License: not declared (unclear)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: low
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 245.9K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

astropy asdf serialization, asdf astropy plugins, serialize astropy objects, astropy binary data format, asdf astronomical data, serialization, astronomy, data-format

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