Privacy Policy for AstroCollect

Effective Date: November 4, 2025
Last Updated: March 26, 2026
Version: 2.4

Introduction

AstroCollect ("we", "our", "the app") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how AstroCollect handles your data when you use our iOS application.

Our privacy philosophy: Your data is yours. We believe in local-first, privacy-respecting software.

TL;DR (Short Version)

  • ✅ All your data stays on your device (or your private iCloud if you enable sync)
  • ✅ No account required
  • ✅ No tracking or analytics
  • ✅ No data collection
  • ✅ No third-party services (except native Apple services)
  • ✅ No data sharing with third parties
  • ✅ GPS coordinates not extracted by default
  • ✅ Optional encrypted iCloud sync
  • ✅ Not intended for children under 13

If you want more details, read the full policy below.

Data Collection

What Data We DO NOT Collect

AstroCollect does NOT collect, transmit, or store any of the following:

  • Personal information (name, email, phone number)
  • Account credentials (no accounts exist)
  • Usage analytics or statistics
  • Crash reports
  • Device identifiers (IDFA, UUID)
  • IP addresses
  • Location data (unless you explicitly enable it)
  • Search queries
  • Any data about your usage patterns

What Data the App Stores Locally

AstroCollect stores the following data exclusively on your device:

  1. Photos you add
    • Celestial object photos you choose to upload
    • Stored in your device's Application Support folder
    • Never transmitted anywhere
  2. Observation metadata
    • Object names
    • Capture dates (extracted from photo EXIF or current date)
    • Upload dates (when you added the photo)
    • GPS coordinates (only if you explicitly enable this feature)
  3. Observation sessions
    • Session date and time
    • Observation location (free text)
    • Conditions ratings (seeing, cloud cover, light pollution, temperature, humidity)
    • List of observed objects (links to photos)
    • Equipment used
    • Custom tags
  4. Object notes
    • Personal notes associated with each celestial object
    • Stored locally, never transmitted
  5. Equipment
    • Your list of observation gear (telescopes, mounts, eyepieces, etc.)
    • Free text names and descriptions
  6. Badges & Achievements
    • List of unlocked badges and unlock dates
    • Computed locally from your photos, sessions and equipment
    • No behavioral data collected
  7. App preferences
    • Language selection
    • GPS extraction preference (on/off)
    • Badge notification preference (on/off)
    • Onboarding completion flag
    • Display preferences (sort order, filters)

Storage location: All data is stored locally in your device's Application Support directory (/Library/Application Support/AstroCatalog/) and UserDefaults. This data is:

  • Sandboxed (only AstroCollect can access it)
  • Backed up to iCloud/iTunes if you have device backups enabled (encrypted)
  • Never sent to any server

Photo Metadata (EXIF)

What We Extract

When you add a photo, AstroCollect may extract the following EXIF metadata:

  • Capture date: When the photo was taken (if available)
  • Camera make/model: For future display features (not currently used)
  • Camera settings: ISO, exposure, aperture, focal length (for future features)

What We DO NOT Extract by Default

  • GPS coordinates: Location data is NOT extracted by default
    • You must explicitly enable "Save location data" in Settings
    • Even when enabled, GPS data never leaves your device
    • You can delete GPS data at any time by disabling the setting

Why We Extract Metadata

  • To automatically determine when you captured each photo
  • To provide better organization and sorting of your observations
  • To display camera settings in future versions (optional feature)

Data Export/Import

Export Feature

You can export all your observation data (photos + metadata) to a ZIP file:

  • Export is triggered manually by you
  • Creates a local ZIP file on your device
  • You can share this file via AirDrop, Files app, email, etc.
  • We never see or access your export files

Import Feature

You can import previously exported data:

  • Import is triggered manually by you
  • Reads a ZIP file you select from your device
  • Restores photos and metadata locally
  • No data is sent anywhere during import

Privacy note: When you share your export file (e.g., via AirDrop to another device), you are responsible for ensuring the recipient is trustworthy. We recommend:

  • Only share with your own devices
  • Use secure transfer methods
  • Disable GPS extraction before exporting if sharing with others

GPS/Location Data

Default Behavior

GPS coordinates are NOT extracted from photos by default.

Opt-In Feature

You can enable "Save location data" in Settings to extract GPS coordinates from photos:

  • This is entirely optional
  • Must be explicitly enabled by you
  • Can be disabled at any time
  • When enabled, GPS coordinates are:
    • Extracted from photo EXIF metadata
    • Stored locally on your device
    • Never transmitted anywhere
    • Never shared with any third party

Why We Offer This Feature

Some users want to remember where they captured their astronomical photos (e.g., dark sky sites, observatories). This feature is for them.

Privacy Warning

AstroCollect displays a warning when you enable GPS extraction:

"GPS coordinates reveal your location. Disable before sharing your data."

This reminds you to turn off GPS extraction before exporting data you plan to share.

Location for Observation Planner

Location Usage

The Observation Planner uses your geographic position to:

  • Calculate rise, transit and set times for celestial objects
  • Display the 24-hour visibility chart adapted to your position
  • Determine if you are in an urban area (light pollution warning)
  • Get local weather forecasts (cloud cover)

Location Processing

  • Optional permission: The app requests "While Using" authorization
  • Local calculations: All astronomical calculations are performed on your device
  • No permanent storage: Your position is not saved between sessions
  • Never shared: Your location is never sent to our servers

Apple Weather Service

To display cloud cover, AstroCollect uses the Apple Weather service:

  • Your approximate position is sent to Apple to get weather forecasts
  • This data is handled according to Apple's Privacy Policy
  • We do not receive or store your location data
  • The weather service is optional: the app works perfectly without it (graceful degradation)
  • Local 2-hour cache to reduce requests

Offline Operation

Without location or internet connection:

  • Astronomical calculations remain available with a default position
  • Moon phase is always calculated locally
  • Only cloud cover requires a connection

Third-Party Services

AstroCollect uses the following Apple services:

  • iCloud / CloudKit: For multi-device sync (optional)
  • Apple Weather: For cloud cover in the Observation Planner (optional)
  • CoreLocation: To determine your position (optional)
  • Reverse Geocoding: To detect urban areas (optional)
  • Siri / App Intents: For voice shortcuts (optional) - commands are processed locally by iOS

These services are provided by Apple and governed by Apple's Privacy Policy.

What We Do NOT Use

  • No analytics services (Google Analytics, Firebase, etc.)
  • No crash reporting services (Crashlytics, Sentry, etc.)
  • No advertising networks
  • No social media SDKs
  • No proprietary backend servers

The app is entirely self-contained and offline-capable (except for weather and sync).

Data Sharing

General Policy

AstroCollect NEVER shares your data with third parties.

Your photos and observation metadata:

  • Remain entirely under your control
  • Are never sent to our servers (we don't have any)
  • Are never shared with Olivier Teissonnière or any third party
  • Are never sold
  • Are never used for commercial purposes

Manual Sharing (Export)

You can voluntarily share your data by exporting a ZIP file. When you do:

  • You decide who receives the data
  • You choose the sharing method (AirDrop, email, etc.)
  • We have no access to the file once created

Right to Opt-Out of Sharing/Selling

Since we never share or sell your data, there is no "sharing" or "sale" mechanism to opt out of. You already have complete control.

Data Retention

Retention Policy

All your data (photos and metadata) are retained:

  • For as long as you want - as long as you keep the app installed
  • You have full control: delete a photo, delete all data, whenever you want
  • No automatic time limit (unless you choose to delete)

Complete Deletion

When you delete the app:

  • All local data is deleted from the Application Support storage
  • Preferences are deleted from UserDefaults
  • No data persists after app deletion
  • Exception: If you have iCloud backups enabled, data may be restored if you reinstall the app (controlled by Apple, not by us)

iCloud Sync (optional)

Since version 1.7, AstroCollect offers optional iCloud synchronization:

  • Entirely optional: Disabled by default, you choose to enable it
  • Your private iCloud account: Data is stored in your personal iCloud space
  • End-to-end encryption: Apple encrypts your data in transit and at rest
  • No third-party servers: We have no access to your synced data
  • Full control: You can disable sync at any time

For more details, see the iCloud Sync section below.

iCloud Sync

How It Works

iCloud sync allows you to share your observations across all your Apple devices:

  • Photos and metadata sync automatically
  • Works with your existing iCloud account
  • Offline mode: changes are queued and synced when reconnected

Sync Privacy

  • Private CloudKit zone: Your data is isolated in your own space
  • No developer access: We cannot see, read, or modify your data
  • Apple encryption: Data is encrypted according to Apple standards
  • Deletion: Disabling sync does not delete your local data

Data Synced

When sync is enabled, the following data is synchronized:

  • Observation photos (compressed to optimize space)
  • Metadata: object name, capture date, upload date
  • GPS coordinates (only if GPS extraction is enabled)
  • Observation sessions: date, location, conditions, equipment used, tags
  • Object notes: your personal annotations
  • Equipment: your gear list
  • Badges: unlocked badges and unlock dates

Enabling and Disabling

  • Enable/disable in Settings → iCloud Sync
  • First activation: migration wizard for existing data
  • Disabling: local data is preserved, only sync stops

Apple's Policy

iCloud sync is subject to Apple's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Data counts against your personal iCloud quota.

Intended Audience and Children's Data

Minimum Age Requirement

AstroCollect is not intended for children under 13 years old.

The app is designed for teenage and adult amateur astronomers. We do not intentionally collect data from children under 13.

If You Are a Parent or Guardian

If you discover that a child is using AstroCollect:

  • The app collects no personally identifiable information
  • Photos are stored locally only
  • We never contact children
  • You can contact astrocollect@teissonniere.eu for any concerns

COPPA Compliance

We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) by not collecting data from children and offering no social sharing features.

Data Controller and Legal Information

Data Controller

Olivier Teissonnière

Data Protection Officer (DPO)

As an independent developer, we do not have a formally appointed DPO. For data protection inquiries, please contact the data controller directly.

Legal Basis for Processing

AstroCollect processes no personal data, so GDPR legal bases do not apply. Your data remains yours and is never processed.

Your Rights and Remedies

Access and Control Rights

You have the right to:

  • Access your data - All your photos and metadata are visible in the app
  • Export your data - Via the Export function (ZIP)
  • Delete your data - Photo by photo or all data at once (in Settings)
  • Port your data - By exporting and importing to another app

Right to Lodge a Complaint

If you have concerns about our data protection compliance, you have the right to:

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact us:

Summary

What AstroCollect does:

  • ✅ Helps you track celestial observations
  • ✅ Stores data locally on your device
  • ✅ Respects your privacy completely

What AstroCollect does NOT do:

  • ❌ Collect your data
  • ❌ Track your usage
  • ❌ Share data with anyone
  • ❌ Require an account
  • ❌ Use analytics or ads

Questions? Email us at astrocollect@teissonniere.eu

Thank you for choosing AstroCollect and trusting us with your astronomical journey! 🌟