Last updated: 2026-08-23_

This policy explains how Groovy Stars (the "App"), made by Shawn Grant, handles your information.

Short version: it doesn't collect any.

## What is collected

Nothing. Groovy Stars has no user accounts, no sign-in, and no analytics, advertising, tracking, or

third-party data-collection SDKs. Your observing logs, equipment, location, usage, and any other personal

information are never sent to the author.

## What stays on your device

Everything you create in the App — observation logs, equipment and observer profiles, observing lists,

your observing-site location, and settings — is stored locally on your device, in the App's own

storage. It's under your control. You can delete it from within the App or by removing the App.

## Internet connections the App makes

To show current data, the App may connect directly to third-party astronomy services — not to the

author, who operates no servers that receive your data. These include:

- Minor Planet Center and Lowell Observatory — current comet, asteroid, and dwarf-planet orbital

elements, when you refresh comets or use the minor-planet updaters.

- CDS / hips2fits (Strasbourg) — sky images (2MASS, DESI Legacy Surveys, DSS) for the objects you view.

- JPL Small-Body Database — elements for a single object you look up.

- COBS Comet OBservation Database — comet observations, when Visual comet magnitudes is on.

- NASA SDO — the current-day image of the Sun, when sunspots are shown.

- Rochester Astronomy — the recent-supernovae list, only if you turn that layer on.

These requests are for astronomical data only. The App does not send them your personal information, logs,

or observing-site location; image requests use the sky coordinates of the object you're viewing, not

your location. As with any internet request, the receiving service can see your device's IP address and the

request itself, which their own privacy policies govern. You can avoid these connections by not using the

online refresh/update features.

## Telescope and equipment control

When you connect to a telescope mount (ASCOM Alpaca, LX200, or INDI), the App communicates **only over your

local network** with the hardware you point it at. Nothing about that is sent to the author or the internet.

## Children

Groovy Stars is a general-audience astronomy app, is not directed to children under 13, and knowingly

collects no information from anyone.

## Data retention and deletion

Because nothing is collected, there's nothing for the author to retain or delete. Your local data lives on

your device until you remove it.

## Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated; the "Last updated" date above will change, and the current version will be

posted on the official Groovy Stars project page. Material changes will be noted in the App or its release

notes.

## Contact

Questions about privacy: Shawn Grant — see the official Groovy Stars project page for contact information.