Athena Internal Error executing a query. Query Id: 896dfc69-b12f-4db2-b33b-4dcb8791f657

The INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE error you're experiencing is an internal Athena issue that occurs on the query engine side. This error is not typically caused by user input, but rather by a problem within Athena's system itself. However, the complexity and size of your query may be contributing factors.

Given that you were able to run the query for a 4-month period initially, but are now encountering issues with various time frames, it's possible that the increased data volume in later periods is pushing the limits of Athena's query engine. While there are no explicit constraints on compute resources that users can control directly in Athena, there are practical limits to query complexity and data volume that the service can handle.

Here are some potential reasons and suggestions:

1. Query Complexity: Your query may be particularly complex, especially if it involves multiple joins, subqueries, or aggregations. As the data volume grows, this complexity could be overwhelming Athena's query engine.

2. Data Volume: The growth in underlying records could indeed be a factor. Even if you're using partitions, a significant increase in data volume might strain Athena's processing capabilities.

3. Partitioning: While you mentioned using partitions, ensure that your partitioning strategy is optimized for your query patterns. Inefficient partitioning can lead to Athena scanning more data than necessary.

4. Resource Limitations: Although not explicitly stated, Athena does have internal limits on resources allocated to individual queries. These limits are not published and can vary.

To address this issue, you could try the following:

1. Break down the query into smaller, more manageable parts if possible.
2. Review and optimize your query, looking for ways to simplify complex joins or subqueries.
3. Ensure your Iceberg table statistics are up to date, which can help Athena's query planner.
4. Consider using a smaller time frame for your query and aggregating results outside of Athena if necessary.
5. Check if there are any ongoing issues with the Athena service in your region.

If the problem persists after trying these steps, it would be advisable to contact AWS support for further assistance. They have access to more detailed logs and can investigate the root cause of the internal error.
Sources
[ErrorCode: INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE] Amazon Athena experienced an internal error while executing this query. | AWS re:Post
Athena Query: Encountered INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE Error | AWS re:Post
ATHENA INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE | AWS re:Post
ErrorCode: INTERNAL_ERROR_QUERY_ENGINE | AWS re:Post

I am able to run smaller time frames and then assemble the data afterwards, by hand. Are there any other mechanisms available to get around these kinds of limitations with Athena?