diff --git a/docs/reference/swe-glib/swe-glib-sections.txt b/docs/reference/swe-glib/swe-glib-sections.txt
index 3ca4d20..981ffb5 100644
--- a/docs/reference/swe-glib/swe-glib-sections.txt
+++ b/docs/reference/swe-glib/swe-glib-sections.txt
@@ -74,11 +74,20 @@ gswe_sign_info_get_type
 <SECTION>
 <FILE>gswe-planet-info</FILE>
 GswePlanetInfo
+gswe_planet_info_new
+gswe_planet_info_ref
+gswe_planet_info_unref
+gswe_planet_info_set_name
 gswe_planet_info_get_name
+gswe_planet_info_set_orb
 gswe_planet_info_get_orb
+gswe_planet_info_set_planet
 gswe_planet_info_get_planet
+gswe_planet_info_set_points
 gswe_planet_info_get_points
+gswe_planet_info_set_real_body
 gswe_planet_info_get_real_body
+gswe_planet_info_set_sweph_id
 gswe_planet_info_get_sweph_id
 <SUBSECTION Standard>
 GSWE_TYPE_PLANET_INFO
diff --git a/src/gswe-planet-info-private.h b/src/gswe-planet-info-private.h
index 245801d..aed7909 100644
--- a/src/gswe-planet-info-private.h
+++ b/src/gswe-planet-info-private.h
@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ struct _GswePlanetInfo {
 
     /* the value this planet counts in the element/quality points table */
     gint points;
-};
 
-void gswe_planet_info_free(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
-GswePlanetInfo *gswe_planet_info_copy(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+    /* reference counter */
+    guint refcount;
+};
 
 #endif /* __SWE_GLIB_GSWE_PLANET_INFO_PRIVATE_H__ */
 #else /* not defined __SWE_GLIB_BUILDING__ */
diff --git a/src/gswe-planet-info.c b/src/gswe-planet-info.c
index 5393db3..368f8a5 100644
--- a/src/gswe-planet-info.c
+++ b/src/gswe-planet-info.c
@@ -30,33 +30,79 @@
  * The #GswePlanetInfo structure stores information about a planet.
  */
 
-G_DEFINE_BOXED_TYPE(GswePlanetInfo, gswe_planet_info, (GBoxedCopyFunc)gswe_planet_info_copy, (GBoxedFreeFunc)gswe_planet_info_free);
+G_DEFINE_BOXED_TYPE(GswePlanetInfo, gswe_planet_info, (GBoxedCopyFunc)gswe_planet_info_ref, (GBoxedFreeFunc)gswe_planet_info_unref);
 
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_new:
+ *
+ * Creates a new #GswePlanetInfo object with reference count set to 1.
+ *
+ * Returns: a new #GswePlanetInfo
+ */
 GswePlanetInfo *
-gswe_planet_info_copy(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
+gswe_planet_info_new(void)
 {
-    GswePlanetInfo *ret = g_new0(GswePlanetInfo, 1);
+    GswePlanetInfo *ret;
 
-    ret->planet = planet_info->planet;
-    ret->sweph_id = planet_info->sweph_id;
-    ret->real_body = planet_info->real_body;
-    ret->orb = planet_info->orb;
-    ret->name = g_strdup(planet_info->name);
-    ret->points = planet_info->points;
+    ret = g_new0(GswePlanetInfo, 1);
+    ret->refcount = 1;
 
     return ret;
 }
 
-void
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_ref:
+ * @planet_info: (in): a #GswePlanetInfo
+ *
+ * Increases reference count on @planet_info.
+ *
+ * Returns: (transfer none): the same #GswePlanetData
+ */
+GswePlanetInfo *
+gswe_planet_info_ref(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
+{
+    planet_info->refcount++;
+
+    return planet_info;
+}
+
+static void
 gswe_planet_info_free(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
     g_free(planet_info->name);
     g_free(planet_info);
 }
 
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_unref:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ *
+ * Decreases reference count on @planet_info. If reference count reaches zero, @planet_info is freed.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_unref(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
+{
+    if (--planet_info->refcount == 0) {
+        gswe_planet_info_free(planet_info);
+    }
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_planet:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet: the new planet ID
+ *
+ * Sets the planet ID that will be represented by @planet_info.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_planet(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, GswePlanet planet)
+{
+    planet_info->planet = planet;
+}
+
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_planet:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Gets the planet ID represented by this #GswePlanetInfo.
  *
@@ -65,16 +111,25 @@ gswe_planet_info_free(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 GswePlanet
 gswe_planet_info_get_planet(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->planet;
-    } else {
-        return GSWE_PLANET_NONE;
-    }
+    return planet_info->planet;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_sweph_id:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @sweph_id: the new Swiss Ephemeris planet ID
+ *
+ * Sets the Swiss Ephemeris planet_id associated with this planet.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_sweph_id(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gint32 sweph_id)
+{
+    planet_info->sweph_id = sweph_id;
 }
 
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_sweph_id:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Gets the Swiss Ephemeris planet ID associated with this planet.
  *
@@ -83,16 +138,26 @@ gswe_planet_info_get_planet(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 gint32
 gswe_planet_info_get_sweph_id(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->sweph_id;
-    } else {
-        return -1;
-    }
+    return planet_info->sweph_id;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_real_body:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @real_body: a  boolean that indicates if this planet is an object recognized
+ *             by Swiss Ephemeris
+ *
+ * Sets whether this planet is an object recognized by the Swiss Ephemeris library.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_real_body(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gboolean real_body)
+{
+    planet_info->real_body = real_body;
 }
 
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_real_body:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Checks weather this planet is a real celestial body (e.g. it has a Swiss Ephemeris planet ID) or not.
  *
@@ -101,16 +166,26 @@ gswe_planet_info_get_sweph_id(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 gboolean
 gswe_planet_info_get_real_body(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->real_body;
-    } else {
-        return FALSE;
-    }
+    return planet_info->real_body;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_orb:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @orb: the planet's own orb
+ *
+ * Sets the orb of @planet_info. This value is used in aspect and antiscion
+ * calculations.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_orb(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gdouble orb)
+{
+    planet_info->orb = orb;
 }
 
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_orb:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Gets the orb of the planet.
  *
@@ -119,16 +194,29 @@ gswe_planet_info_get_real_body(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 gdouble
 gswe_planet_info_get_orb(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->orb;
-    } else {
-        return -1.0;
+    return planet_info->orb;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_name:
+ * @planet_info: (in): a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @name: (in): the new name of the planet
+ *
+ * Sets the name of @planet_info.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_name(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, const gchar *name)
+{
+    if (planet_info->name) {
+        g_free(planet_info->name);
     }
+
+    planet_info->name = g_strdup(name);
 }
 
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_name:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Gets the name of the planet.
  *
@@ -137,16 +225,25 @@ gswe_planet_info_get_orb(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 const gchar *
 gswe_planet_info_get_name(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->name;
-    } else {
-        return NULL;
-    }
+    return planet_info->name;
+}
+
+/**
+ * gswe_planet_info_set_points:
+ * @planet_info: a #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @points: the new point value
+ *
+ * Sets the point value of @planet_info. This value is used in points calculations.
+ */
+void
+gswe_planet_info_set_points(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gint points)
+{
+    planet_info->points = points;
 }
 
 /**
  * gswe_planet_info_get_points:
- * @planet_info: (in) (allow-none): A #GswePlanetInfo
+ * @planet_info: (in): A #GswePlanetInfo
  *
  * Gets the value this planet counts in point calculations.
  *
@@ -155,10 +252,6 @@ gswe_planet_info_get_name(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 gint
 gswe_planet_info_get_points(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info)
 {
-    if (planet_info) {
-        return planet_info->points;
-    } else {
-        return 0;
-    }
+    return planet_info->points;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gswe-planet-info.h b/src/gswe-planet-info.h
index e832b90..5e1e26f 100644
--- a/src/gswe-planet-info.h
+++ b/src/gswe-planet-info.h
@@ -37,11 +37,27 @@ typedef struct _GswePlanetInfo GswePlanetInfo;
 GType gswe_planet_info_get_type(void);
 #define GSWE_TYPE_PLANET_INFO (gswe_planet_info_get_type())
 
+GswePlanetInfo *gswe_planet_info_new(void);
+
+GswePlanetInfo *gswe_planet_info_ref(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+void gswe_planet_info_unref(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_planet(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, GswePlanet planet);
 GswePlanet gswe_planet_info_get_planet(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_sweph_id(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gint32 sweph_id);
 gint32 gswe_planet_info_get_sweph_id(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_real_body(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gboolean real_body);
 gboolean gswe_planet_info_get_real_body(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_orb(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gdouble orb);
 gdouble gswe_planet_info_get_orb(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_name(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, const gchar *name);
 const gchar *gswe_planet_info_get_name(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
+
+void gswe_planet_info_set_points(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info, gint points);
 gint gswe_planet_info_get_points(GswePlanetInfo *planet_info);
 
 G_END_DECLS
diff --git a/src/swe-glib.c b/src/swe-glib.c
index 8767f26..d93b48f 100644
--- a/src/swe-glib.c
+++ b/src/swe-glib.c
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ GHashTable *gswe_antiscion_axis_info_table;
 GsweTimestamp *gswe_full_moon_base_date;
 
 #define ADD_PLANET(ht, v, i, s, r, n, o, h) \
-    (v) = g_new0(GswePlanetInfo, 1); \
+    (v) = gswe_planet_info_new(); \
     (v)->planet = (i); \
     (v)->sweph_id = (s); \
     (v)->real_body = (r); \