shipapis
StarSubmit an APISubmit API

Hong Kong Observatory vs National Grid ESO

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIHong Kong ObservatoryHEALTHY60National Grid ESOHEALTHY92
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%100%
Uptime · 30d100%100%
P50 · ms1415609
P95 · ms36701311
Authnonenone
CORSyesyes
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseHKO open data (see terms of use)NESO Open Data Licence (OGL-based); varies per dataset
Free tierFree, no keyFree — limits not published
Rate limitUnpublishedUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Hong Kong Observatory vs National Grid ESO: common questions

Which is more reliable, Hong Kong Observatory or National Grid ESO?

Both are neck-and-neck — Hong Kong Observatory and National Grid ESO each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.

Which is faster, Hong Kong Observatory or National Grid ESO?

National Grid ESO has the lower median latency in our checks — Hong Kong Observatory responds in 1415 ms versus National Grid ESO at 609 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.

Do Hong Kong Observatory and National Grid ESO need an API key?

Neither needs a paid key — Hong Kong Observatory is callable with no signup, and National Grid ESO is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.

Can I call Hong Kong Observatory and National Grid ESO from the browser?

Yes — both Hong Kong Observatory and National Grid ESO send CORS headers over HTTPS, so front-end code can fetch either directly with no backend proxy. That makes them easy to swap in a client-side app while you compare responses.

Are Hong Kong Observatory and National Grid ESO free for commercial use?

Hong Kong Observatory has unclear commercial terms, and National Grid ESO has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.