Starmap
Privacy Policy
Effective June 4, 2026
In short: Starmap contains no advertising, no analytics, no accounts, no in-app purchases, and no tracking. It does not collect or transmit your personal data to us. The location and calendar information the app uses stays on your device.
Starmap is a free astronomy reference app for iPhone. This policy explains what information the app uses, what stays on your device, and the limited cases in which data travels to independent astronomy services to fetch live information.
Who this policy covers
This policy applies to the Starmap iOS application and to this website. It is provided by the developer of Starmap. If you have questions, you can reach us using the details in the “Contact” section below.
What the app does not do
- It does not show advertisements.
- It does not include analytics, advertising identifiers, or third-party tracking SDKs.
- It does not require an account, login, or registration.
- It does not sell, rent, or share your personal information.
- It does not track you across other apps or websites, and therefore does not use Apple’s App Tracking Transparency prompt.
Information processed on your device
The following is used by the app on your device to do its job. It is stored locally and is not sent to us:
- Location. With your permission, the app uses your device’s GPS location — or coordinates you enter or search for manually — to compute the sky for your position. You can save up to a small number of locations. Location data is used on the device and is not transmitted to us.
- Motion and orientation. The compass and motion sensors are used to align the sky map when you point your device at the sky. This happens on the device only.
- Calendar. If you choose to add an event (such as a rise, transit, set, or twilight time), the app writes that event to your calendar using the system frameworks, with your permission. We do not read your calendar and do not receive these events.
- Your settings, saved locations, and equipment. Telescopes, eyepieces, preferences, and recently viewed objects are stored locally on your device.
Data sent to independent astronomy services
Some features fetch up-to-date information from established astronomy data providers. When you use those features, your device makes a network request to the relevant service. Such a request necessarily includes your device’s IP address and the query itself (for example, the identifier of an object you are looking up). These providers operate independently of us, under their own terms and privacy policies:
- SIMBAD — operated by the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS), used to enrich object details and resolve catalogue identifiers.
- NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) — used for live solar and space-weather data (sunspots, flares, flux, Kp index, aurora forecasts).
- Minor Planet Center (MPC) — used for current comet, asteroid, trans-Neptunian, and interstellar object data.
We do not send these services your name, account, or contact information, and we do not receive personal data back from them. We do not control how they process the technical information inherent in any internet request; please consult each provider’s own policy for details.
Children’s privacy
Starmap is suitable for all ages. The app does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children.
Data retention and security
Because the app keeps your information on your device and we do not operate accounts or servers that store your personal data, there is little for us to retain or secure on our side. Information held on your device is removed when you delete the relevant data or uninstall the app.
The website and the contact form
If you contact us through the form on this website, you provide your name, email address, and message. We use this only to read and reply to your message. The form uses spam-prevention measures. We do not use this information for marketing and do not share it with third parties for that purpose.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights over personal information you have provided to us (for example, through the contact form), such as the right to access, correct, or delete it. To exercise any such right, contact us using the details below.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Effective” date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be reflected here.
Contact
For any question about this policy or your data, email privacy@star-map.fr, or use the contact form on our website.