By Luke Addington
It’s funny how certain curiosities can shape our lives in unexpected ways. For me, it was a fascination with the moon, a fascination that didn’t begin in my childhood, but as an adult.
The Idea
The idea came about while I was trying to create an app that would provide comprehensive data about the moon. I wasn’t seeking just the basic waxing and waning details, but a deeper understanding of our celestial neighbour. However, as I dived into the project, I quickly realised a significant hurdle. There were no existing APIs that offered the depth of data I was looking for.
The Challenge
Faced with this challenge, I had two choices: abandon my idea or tackle the problem head-on. I chose the latter. If the resource I needed didn’t exist, I was going to create it myself. And so, I began the journey of developing my own API. Initially, it was just a personal project.
The First Step
I spent countless hours immersed in research and coding, finally hosting my first endpoint on RapidAPI. This modest endpoint provided only the current phase of the moon, but it was a significant first step.
A Growing Community
To my surprise, my project began to attract attention. A small community of moon enthusiasts found value in my API and started using it. Seeing others benefit from my work was incredibly fulfilling, and it encouraged me to enhance the capabilities of the API.
Back to the Grindstone
Back to the grindstone I went, diving even deeper into the world of lunar data. After months of work, I was able to add more endpoints that offered advanced data. From intricate lunar calendars to a unique markdown emoji moon phase calendar, my project started to grow into something far beyond my initial vision.
The rename
As the popularity of the API began to grow, I decided to create a dedicated brand for it, leading to the inception of Moon-API.com. This website wasn’t about turning a profit, but rather about sharing my passion for the moon with a larger audience.
Reflections
Now, as I look back at my journey, I see a personal project that evolved into a resource for moon enthusiasts worldwide. The road wasn’t always smooth, but each challenge only pushed me to learn more, to delve deeper, and to make the API even better.
To My Users, and Beyond
To all the users of Moon-API.com, thank you. Your support and interest have been integral to this journey. I hope this API continues to satisfy your lunar curiosity, just as it does mine. And for those hearing about this project for the first time, I warmly welcome you. Let’s discover the mysteries of the moon together.
