Privacy Policy and Support

Privacy and support information for BigSkyAstro astronomy planning apps: BigSky Planner for iPhone/iPad and Astronomy Observation Planner Beta for macOS.

Effective date: June 5, 2026 Publisher: BigSkyAstro Apps: iOS/iPadOS and macOS
No account required

The apps do not require a BigSkyAstro account.

Local-first planning

Locations, telescope choices, filters, plans, and preferences are stored on your device.

No ads or tracking

The current apps are not designed to serve ads, sell personal information, or use third-party tracking SDKs.

Support

For help, release feedback, beta feedback, App Store review questions, or privacy questions, contact BigSkyAstro.

Email: support@bigskyastro.com

Privacy email: privacy@bigskyastro.com

Send feedback with app selection

Which App This Covers

BigSky Planner

iPhone and iPad App Store app for smart telescope planning, locations, target filtering, weather, and observation plans.

Astronomy Observation Planner Beta

macOS beta app for desktop observation planning, location setup, telescope/accessory selection, target filtering, and plan review/export.

Information Stored On Your Device

The apps may store information locally so the planning workflows work without an account:

  • observing location names, latitude, longitude, elevation, time zone, and related site details
  • default observing location and saved location preferences
  • smart telescope, telescope, and accessory selections
  • target catalog filters, blocked sky areas, selected targets, and observation plan entries
  • planned start and stop times for observation targets
  • app preferences, setup-complete flags, and app status information

Location Information

The apps may ask for Location Services if you choose a current-location feature. Location access is optional. If you do not grant location permission, you can still enter coordinates or address details manually.

Internet And Online Requests

Many planning features use local data. Optional online features may contact outside services when you choose to use them. Requests may include coordinates, date and time, target names, catalog identifiers, address text, or other information needed to complete that feature.

Online features may include address lookup, elevation lookup, weather lookup, sky quality lookup, astronomy catalog refreshes, small-body or transient lookups, manuals/support pages, and target image lookup. Providers may receive normal internet request information such as IP address, request headers, and request content.

Data Sharing

BigSkyAstro does not receive your locally stored planning data from the apps. If you use a feature that queries an external provider, the information needed for that query may be sent directly from your device to that provider.

If you share, print, export, email, or send an observing plan, that information leaves the app only by your explicit action through the sharing method you choose.

Retention And Deletion

Information stored by the apps is generally retained on your device until you delete it in the app, remove the app, reset app data, or delete the underlying local files or backups.

Children And Changes

The apps are not directed to children under 13. We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time; material changes will update the effective date above.