sunpy
SunPy core package: Python for Solar Physics
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. SunPy is a stable, actively maintained library (Production/Stable status, release 45 days ago) with low install friction, no known security vulnerabilities, and permissive licensing. It is the standard tool in its domain and appropriate for any solar physics research or analysis work in Python. The requirement for Python 3.12 or later is not a barrier for modern projects.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.12 or later.
- Low friction installation with seven runtime dependencies.
- Active maintenance with a release 45 days ago and continuous development; last commit 2026-08-13.
License · maintenance · safety
BSD-3-Clause (permissive) — BSD-3-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; attribution required.
last release 2026-06-30 (45 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-13 · 1,032 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 106,375 downloads/mo, #12,655 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install sunpy
import sunpy.map
map_obj = sunpy.map.Map(data)- Specific data providers supported by the search and download interface
- Performance characteristics for large time-series or multi-wavelength datasets
- Whether coordinate transformation accuracy is validated against published standards
- Sample data availability and how to access it in typical workflows
What it is and what it does
SunPy is a mature Python library for solar physics research, providing standardized containers and tools for working with solar observation data. It abstracts away the complexity of accessing multiple data sources, handling different image formats, and managing solar-specific coordinate systems and transformations. The library sits on top of established scientific Python packages (numpy, astropy, fsspec, requests, packaging, parfive, pyerfa) to offer domain-specific functionality without reinventing foundational tools.
Typical workflows involve searching and downloading solar data from multiple providers through a unified interface, loading that data into map or time-series objects, and performing coordinate transformations to align observations from different instruments or time periods. The package is designed for researchers and data analysts who work with solar imagery, spectroscopy, or other solar observations and need reliable, well-tested abstractions rather than building these tools from scratch.
Use it for
- Download and load solar imaging data from multiple sources and display or analyze it in a standardized format
- Transform solar observations between different coordinate systems for multi-instrument analysis
- Build time-series analysis pipelines for solar activity monitoring or event detection
- Access and process solar spectroscopy or magnetogram data within a Python workflow
- Develop solar physics research code that relies on consistent data handling and coordinate conventions
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
SunPy is a stable, actively maintained library (Production/Stable status, release 45 days ago) with low install friction, no known security vulnerabilities, and permissive licensing. It is the standard tool in its domain and appropriate for any solar physics research or analysis work in Python. The requirement for Python 3.12 or later is not a barrier for modern projects.
Install
sunpy on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction installation with seven runtime dependencies. Active maintenance with a release 45 days ago and continuous development; last commit 2026-08-13.
Requires Python 3.12 or later.
License in practice
BSD-3-Clause permissive license allows commercial and private use with minimal restrictions; attribution required.
Quickstart
pip install sunpy
import sunpy.map
map_obj = sunpy.map.Map(data)Verify before relying
- Specific data providers supported by the search and download interface
- Performance characteristics for large time-series or multi-wavelength datasets
- Whether coordinate transformation accuracy is validated against published standards
- Sample data availability and how to access it in typical workflows
Package facts
| License | BSD-3-Clause permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.12 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 7 packagesastropyfsspecnumpypackagingparfivepyerfarequests |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 45 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 106,375 / month, #12,655 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchNatural Language :: EnglishOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Physics |
Evidence: sunpy-8.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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