Last Updated: September 2, 2026
Data Controller: John Barentine (Developer & Rights Holder)
Contact: john.barentine @ gmail ( d o t ) com
Data Controller: John Barentine (Developer & Rights Holder)
Contact: john.barentine @ gmail ( d o t ) com
SatSpotter is a citizen science mobile application designed to capture, calibrate, and submit artificial satellite observations to the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Centre for the Protection of the Dark and Quiet Sky from Satellite Constellation Interference (CPS).
This Privacy Policy explains what data SatSpotter collects, how it is processed, and where it is transmitted.
1. Information Collected
SatSpotter collects only the minimal data required to perform astrometric and photometric satellite orbit identification:
2. How Your Data Is Used
Your data is processed strictly for astronomical research and public-interest science:
3. Data Sharing & Third Parties
SatSpotter does not sell, rent, or monetize your personal data. Data is transmitted exclusively to the following endpoints for scientific processing:
4. Data Storage & Retention
5. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction (such as under the EU General Data Protection Regulation / GDPR), you have the right to:
6. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as new features or server endpoints are introduced. Any changes will be published directly on this page.
This Privacy Policy explains what data SatSpotter collects, how it is processed, and where it is transmitted.
1. Information Collected
SatSpotter collects only the minimal data required to perform astrometric and photometric satellite orbit identification:
- Precise Geographic Location: Latitude, longitude, and altitude collected via your device's GPS. Precise location is scientifically required to calculate local satellite zenith angles and perform coordinate matching against orbital element sets.
- Observer Identifiers: Email address and optional ORCID iD provided during onboarding or in Settings. These identifiers are attached to submitted observation records for academic attribution in scientific databases.
- Instrument & Device Telemetry: Camera model, manufacturer, focus settings, device motion stability status, and compass orientation (Azimuth/Elevation).
- Optical Imagery: Micro-cropped image payloads (TIFF/DNG) centered on detected satellite streaks and background stars. Full-frame photos are cropped locally on your device before transmission.
2. How Your Data Is Used
Your data is processed strictly for astronomical research and public-interest science:
- Local Staging: Observer profiles and unsubmitted observations are stored locally on your device in persistent JSON logs.
- Plate Solving & Photometry: Cropped images and GPS coordinates are sent to our cloud processing backend (FastAPI) to extract stellar sources, match background stars via Gaia DR3 catalogs, and calculate satellite brightness.
- Orbital Verification: Coordinates and observation timestamps are queried against the IAU SatChecker API (satchecker.cps.iau.org) to confirm target identities against low Earth orbit TLE catalogs.
- Scientific Archiving: Final calibrated records are uploaded to the public IAU CPS SCORE Database (score.cps.iau.org) or exported as CSV files for research distribution.
3. Data Sharing & Third Parties
SatSpotter does not sell, rent, or monetize your personal data. Data is transmitted exclusively to the following endpoints for scientific processing:
- SatSpotter FastAPI Cloud Backend: Processes temporary micro-crop images and performs local astrometry.
- IAU SatChecker API: Receives observation time, observer GPS location, and sky pointing angles to identify nearby satellites.
- IAU CPS SCORE Database: Receives final observation records (observer email, ORCID iD, instrument name, observer GPS coordinates, and calculated apparent magnitude).
4. Data Storage & Retention
- Device Storage: You maintain full control over local queue data stored on your device and can clear all staged records at any time using the "Clear All" option in the Dashboard.
- Server Storage: Temporary image crops uploaded to the cloud backend are automatically deleted immediately after plate-solving and photometric reduction complete.
- Public Archive Data: Calibrated observations submitted to the IAU CPS SCORE database become part of a permanent scientific record.
5. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction (such as under the EU General Data Protection Regulation / GDPR), you have the right to:
- Access or review the personal data stored within your local app staging queue.
- Update or correct your observer credentials anytime in the app Settings tab.
- Request deletion or anonymization of your email address from future SCORE database submissions by contacting the developer at john.barentine @ gmail ( d o t ) com.
6. Updates to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as new features or server endpoints are introduced. Any changes will be published directly on this page.