Skyfield Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 23, 2026
Last Updated: May 23, 2026
Developer: Ali Yiğit
Contact: aliyigxt@icloud.com

This Privacy Policy explains how Skyfield handles privacy, permissions, local data, Apple services, subscriptions, user rights, data security, and the limits of the developer’s responsibility.

Skyfield is designed as a privacy-first astronomy application. The app is intended to work primarily on your device. The developer does not operate a developer-controlled server to collect your personal data from the app, does not sell your personal data, does not use advertising identifiers, and does not use third-party tracking SDKs.

For the purposes of this Privacy Policy, “Skyfield,” “the app,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to the Skyfield application and its individual developer, Ali Yiğit.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy limits mandatory consumer rights, privacy rights, data protection rights, or other rights that cannot legally be excluded. Any responsibility limitation in this Privacy Policy applies only to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law.

1. Summary

Skyfield is designed around the following privacy principles:

- Personal app data is intended to stay on your device.
- Skyfield does not send your profile, notes, favorites, observations, camera frames, motion data, or location data to a developer server.
- Skyfield does not include third-party advertising SDKs, tracking SDKs, analytics SDKs, or data broker integrations.
- Skyfield does not sell, rent, trade, or share your personal data for advertising or tracking.
- Apple system services, including Location Services, Photos, App Store, StoreKit, iCloud Backup, diagnostics, device permissions, Apple ID, and device security systems, may process data under Apple’s own privacy practices and your device settings.
- Subscriptions, payments, renewals, refunds, billing, taxes, pricing display, purchase history, and cancellation are handled by Apple App Store and StoreKit, not by the developer.
- The developer is not responsible for Apple-managed processing, Apple service failures, Apple security incidents, Apple data breaches, Apple ID compromise, iCloud behavior, App Store billing records, StoreKit behavior, Apple Photos behavior, Apple diagnostics, Apple backups, or other Apple-controlled systems, except where applicable law does not allow such responsibility to be excluded.
- You are responsible for your own device security, Apple ID security, passcode, iCloud settings, backup settings, permission choices, content you add to the app, files you import, links you open, and information you voluntarily share with the developer or third parties.

2. Data Controller

For personal data that may be handled directly by the developer, such as privacy support emails that you voluntarily send, the data controller is:

Ali Yiğit
Contact: aliyigxt@icloud.com

For data processed by Apple services, including App Store, StoreKit, iCloud, Photos, Location Services, device diagnostics, Apple ID, Apple Account, device backups, subscription management, and operating system-level services, Apple may act as an independent controller under Apple’s own privacy practices. Skyfield does not control Apple’s systems, Apple ID, App Store, iCloud, billing infrastructure, diagnostics infrastructure, Photos infrastructure, Location Services, or operating system-level privacy behavior.

3. Data Skyfield Does Not Collect Through Developer Servers

Skyfield does not collect the following through developer-controlled servers:

- your local profile name or optional profile image;
- your observation notes, logs, plans, todos, drawings, files, images, or attachments;
- your favorites, filters, settings, selected time, selected city, or local preferences;
- your precise location;
- camera frames, photos, astro captures, stacked images, or generated observation images;
- motion, gyroscope, compass, heading, pitch, roll, pressure, or sensor readings;
- advertising identifiers or tracking identifiers;
- payment card details;
- third-party analytics, advertising, telemetry, or tracking data.

Skyfield does not use third-party advertising or tracking SDKs.

4. Data Stored Locally on Your Device

Skyfield may store data locally on your device so that app features work properly. This local data may include:

- local profile information, such as first name, last name, username, and optional avatar image;
- onboarding completion status;
- selected city, manual location choice, and last device-based sky location where applicable;
- selected date and time for sky calculations;
- live sky time preference;
- navigation mode, motion settings, night vision setting, filters, and display preferences;
- favorites and object selections;
- local notification identifiers and reminder preferences;
- observation plans, observation logs, todos, deleted-note state, and reminder state;
- notes, drawings, text, links, tables, code-style note blocks, images, and file attachments that you add;
- equipment profiles, dark site profiles, active profile selections, sky quality calibration, and astro weather profile;
- local subscription level status after StoreKit entitlement verification.

This information is intended to remain on your device and is not sent to a Skyfield developer server.

5. Profile Data

Skyfield may let you create a local in-app profile. This may include your first name, last name, username, and optional avatar image. This profile is a local app profile, not a server account. It is stored on your device so the app can personalize the local experience.

Skyfield does not upload this profile to a developer server. If your device backup or iCloud Backup settings include Skyfield app data, Apple may back up local app data according to Apple’s own settings and privacy practices. The developer does not control Apple-managed backups and is not responsible for Apple backup behavior, Apple backup delays, Apple backup retention, Apple restoration behavior, or Apple-managed disclosure incidents, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

6. Location Data

Skyfield may request location access while the app is in use. Location may be used for astronomy-related features, including:

- calculating the local sky;
- determining object visibility;
- aligning the sky map with your observing position;
- supporting compass and heading-related tools;
- supporting telescope polar alignment and antenna pointing tools;
- calculating local astronomy event times;
- improving observation planning and visibility estimates.

Skyfield does not send your location to a developer server. Location calculations are performed on device.

If you do not grant location permission, Skyfield may continue with manual city/location selection where available. Some features may be limited, less accurate, or unavailable without location access.

Location Services are provided by Apple’s operating system. Depending on your device settings, Apple Location Services may process location-related information under Apple’s own privacy practices. Skyfield does not control Apple’s system-level location processing. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for Apple Location Services processing, Apple location accuracy, Apple location retention, Apple system behavior, Apple service outages, Apple security incidents, or Apple-controlled disclosure of location-related information.

7. Motion, Gyroscope, Compass, and Sensor Data

Skyfield may use device motion, gyroscope, compass, heading, pitch, roll, altitude, pressure, or related sensor data for features such as:

- gyro/manual sky map navigation;
- sky map alignment;
- camera overlay alignment;
- compass tools;
- level tools;
- pitch and roll tools;
- professional astronomy utilities.

This sensor data is processed on device. Skyfield does not send raw motion or sensor readings to a developer server. Some local preferences, such as motion sensitivity or navigation settings, may be stored on your device.

If motion, compass, or sensor access is unavailable, inaccurate, disabled, or denied, related features may be limited or unavailable. Device sensors can be affected by hardware limitations, magnetic interference, calibration state, environment, operating system behavior, and device settings. The developer is not responsible for data exposure, inaccurate output, or feature limitations caused by device sensors, OS behavior, user settings, physical environment, user calibration choices, or hardware limitations, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

8. Camera

Skyfield may request camera access for features such as:

- live sky overlays;
- Skyfield Camera;
- Astro Capture;
- camera-based observing workflows;
- adding images to observation notes.

Camera frames and captures are processed on device. Skyfield does not send camera frames, previews, or captured photos to a developer server.

Some camera workflows may create temporary processing files during capture, stacking, alignment, preview generation, or saving. These temporary files are intended to support local processing and may be cleared after completion, cancellation, or cleanup. Device and operating system behavior may affect temporary storage cleanup timing.

If camera permission is denied, camera-based features will not work or will offer a limited fallback where available.

You are responsible for what you choose to capture, store, export, save, or share. The developer is not responsible for privacy incidents caused by your choice to photograph sensitive content, save images to Apple Photos, share images externally, expose your device to others, use insecure backups, or grant access to your device or Apple ID, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

9. Photos and Photo Library

Skyfield may request photo-related access for features such as:

- selecting a profile image;
- cropping a selected image;
- attaching images to observation notes;
- saving camera captures, astro captures, stacked results, or generated observation images to Apple Photos.

Skyfield is intended to access only images that you select or images that you choose to save. Images are processed on device and are not sent to a developer server.

When you save an image to Apple Photos, that saved image is managed by Apple Photos and your device or iCloud settings. Deleting local Skyfield app data does not automatically delete images that were already saved to your Photos library.

The developer does not control Apple Photos, iCloud Photos, shared albums, device backups, Apple Photos permissions, or Apple photo-sync behavior. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for Apple Photos/iCloud Photos data leaks, sync behavior, retention, deletion delays, sharing behavior, account compromise, or Apple-managed disclosure incidents.

10. Files, Notes, Drawings, and User Content

Skyfield may let you create local notes, attach files, add images, draw, write text, add links, create tables, or save observation-related content. This content is stored locally in the app’s data.

Skyfield does not send this content to a developer server. You are responsible for the content you choose to add to the app, including any personal, confidential, copyrighted, sensitive, private, financial, health-related, location-related, or third-party information that you voluntarily store inside notes, files, drawings, or attachments.

If you add or open external links, external websites or services are governed by their own terms and privacy policies. Skyfield is not responsible for external websites, external services, external content, external downloads, malware, phishing, scams, or their data practices.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for data leaks, disclosure, loss, corruption, or unauthorized access caused by user-added content, user-imported files, unsafe links, screenshots, screen recordings, user sharing, device sharing, weak passcodes, unauthorized Apple ID access, jailbroken devices, malware, compromised devices, unsafe backups, or any other user-controlled action or omission.

11. Local Notifications

Skyfield may request permission to send local notifications for features such as:

- observation reminders;
- todo reminders;
- astronomy event reminders;
- object visibility alerts.

These notifications are generated locally by the app and iOS. Skyfield does not use a developer push notification server for these reminders.

Notification content may appear on your lock screen, notification center, Apple Watch, CarPlay, Focus modes, or other Apple-managed surfaces depending on your device settings. You can manage notification permissions in iOS Settings.

You are responsible for your notification privacy settings. The developer is not responsible for notification content being visible to others due to lock screen settings, shared devices, Apple Watch settings, CarPlay settings, Focus settings, screen mirroring, screenshots, or other user/device settings, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

12. Subscriptions, In-App Purchases, and StoreKit

Skyfield may offer subscriptions or in-app purchases through Apple App Store and StoreKit.

Payment processing, subscription renewal, cancellation, billing, refunds, taxes, pricing display, Apple Account management, purchase history, and related economic transactions are handled by Apple, not by the Skyfield developer. Skyfield does not receive or store your payment card details.

Skyfield may store your current subscription level locally after Apple StoreKit entitlement verification so that premium features can be unlocked inside the app.

To cancel or manage a subscription, use Apple’s App Store subscription settings. Deleting Skyfield or deleting local app data does not automatically cancel an Apple-managed subscription.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for Apple billing issues, Apple refund decisions, Apple subscription renewal behavior, Apple payment failures, Apple tax handling, Apple pricing display, Apple StoreKit outages, Apple transaction records, Apple purchase history, Apple account restrictions, or Apple-managed security incidents.

13. Apple Services, iCloud, Backups, and Diagnostics

Skyfield is designed not to send your app data to a developer server. However, Apple services may process or store data depending on your Apple ID, device settings, operating system settings, App Store settings, iCloud settings, diagnostics settings, backup settings, and permission choices.

Apple-managed services may include:

- Apple Location Services;
- Apple Photos and iCloud Photos;
- iCloud Backup and device backups;
- Apple App Store and StoreKit;
- Apple ID and subscription management;
- Apple diagnostics and crash reporting;
- iOS notification systems;
- operating system-level privacy and security services.

Skyfield does not control Apple’s systems, Apple ID, iCloud, App Store, StoreKit, Photos, billing records, diagnostics, device backups, Apple security infrastructure, or operating system-level privacy behavior.

If you have enabled iCloud Backup or other Apple backup features, local Skyfield app data may be included in backups according to Apple’s rules and your device settings. Skyfield cannot guarantee immediate deletion from Apple-managed backups or Apple systems.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, the developer is not responsible for any data breach, data leak, unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, corruption, delay, outage, sync issue, retention issue, deletion failure, restoration issue, account compromise, billing issue, purchase issue, or privacy incident caused by or occurring within Apple-controlled services, Apple systems, Apple ID, iCloud, iCloud Backup, Apple Photos, Location Services, App Store, StoreKit, diagnostics, device backups, Apple servers, Apple security systems, or iOS/macOS/watchOS/iPadOS operating system behavior.

14. Analytics, Tracking, Advertising, and Crash Reporting

Skyfield does not include third-party analytics SDKs, advertising SDKs, tracking SDKs, data broker SDKs, or third-party crash reporting SDKs.

Skyfield does not track you across apps or websites owned by other companies for advertising or data broker purposes.

Apple may provide developers with Apple-managed App Store Connect analytics, sales, subscription, performance, crash, or diagnostic information depending on Apple’s systems and user settings. These Apple-managed reports are provided through Apple’s developer tools and are not the same as Skyfield collecting personal data through its own app server.

15. Legal Bases Under GDPR

Where GDPR applies, Skyfield relies on the following legal bases depending on the context:

- Performance of a contract or requested service: to provide app features that you choose to use, such as local profile setup, sky calculations, notes, reminders, camera workflows, and subscription feature access.
- Consent: where iOS asks for your permission, such as location, camera, photos, motion-related access where applicable, or notifications. You can withdraw these permissions through iOS Settings.
- Legitimate interests: to maintain app functionality, security, local preferences, support communication, and fraud-resistant subscription entitlement handling, where this does not override your rights.
- Legal obligations: where the developer must comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting, consumer protection, App Store, or regulatory requirements.

Because Skyfield is designed not to collect app data on developer-controlled servers, most app data rights can be exercised directly on your device by editing or deleting local data in the app or deleting the app from your device.

16. GDPR and Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights regarding personal data, including:

- the right to be informed;
- the right of access;
- the right to rectification;
- the right to erasure;
- the right to restrict processing;
- the right to object;
- the right to data portability;
- the right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
- the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects;
- the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority.

Skyfield does not make legal or similarly significant decisions about you using solely automated processing.

To exercise rights regarding data processed directly by the developer, contact aliyigxt@icloud.com. Because Skyfield does not operate a developer server account system, the developer may not have access to your local app data unless you choose to send it.

For Apple-managed data, such as App Store purchases, Apple ID, iCloud, Apple Photos, Apple diagnostics, Location Services, billing, tax, refunds, and subscription records, you should use Apple’s privacy tools, Apple Account settings, App Store settings, or contact Apple directly.

17. Support Emails and Voluntary Communications

If you contact the developer by email or another support channel, you may voluntarily provide your email address, name, message content, device/app details, screenshots, attachments, or other information.

This information is used only to respond to your request, provide support, protect legal rights, prevent abuse, and maintain records where reasonably necessary. Support emails may be stored in the developer’s email account or Apple/iCloud email systems. Do not send sensitive information unless it is necessary for your request.

You are responsible for the content you choose to send in support communications. The developer is not responsible for sensitive information, screenshots, files, logs, or personal data that you voluntarily disclose beyond what is necessary for support, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

You may request deletion of support communications by contacting aliyigxt@icloud.com, subject to legal, security, dispute, tax, accounting, abuse-prevention, or legitimate recordkeeping needs.

18. Data Retention

Local app data remains on your device until you delete it, use the app’s local deletion feature where available, uninstall the app, reset the app, or erase the device.

Some data may remain in Apple-managed backups, Photos, App Store records, billing records, subscription records, diagnostics, or other Apple systems according to Apple’s policies and your settings.

Support emails and voluntary communications may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to respond to you, maintain support history, protect legal rights, resolve disputes, prevent abuse, or comply with legal obligations.

19. Local Data Deletion

Skyfield may provide an option to delete your local account/profile and app data. This option is intended to remove local Skyfield data from the app, such as:

- local profile data;
- settings and preferences;
- selected city/location state;
- favorites and filters;
- notes, drawings, files, and attachments stored inside the app;
- observation plans, todos, reminders, and logs;
- equipment profiles, dark site profiles, sky quality calibration, and astro weather profile;
- pending and delivered local notifications created by the app where technically available.

Local data deletion does not cancel Apple subscriptions, delete Apple App Store purchase history, delete Apple billing records, delete Apple tax records, delete Apple diagnostic records, delete images already saved to Apple Photos, or remove data from Apple-managed backups that may already exist.

If your device is offline, Apple services are unavailable, iCloud/device backup behavior is controlled by your system settings, or data already exists in Apple-managed systems, Skyfield cannot guarantee immediate removal from Apple-managed backups or external Apple systems.

20. User Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

- keeping your device, passcode, Apple ID, iCloud account, and backups secure;
- choosing safe device, iCloud, Photos, notification, backup, and permission settings;
- deciding what personal, sensitive, confidential, copyrighted, third-party, or private content you add to Skyfield;
- deciding what photos, files, links, notes, screenshots, or support materials you create, import, save, export, share, or send;
- avoiding use on jailbroken, compromised, infected, or insecure devices;
- managing Apple subscriptions and App Store purchase settings through Apple;
- understanding that deleting local app data does not automatically delete Apple-managed records, Photos content, purchase history, billing records, backups, or external copies.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for data loss, data leakage, unauthorized access, privacy harm, financial loss, subscription issues, or other damage caused by your own actions, omissions, device settings, weak security practices, shared device access, Apple ID compromise, external sharing, unsafe links, imported files, screenshots, screen recordings, backups, or use of the app on compromised devices.

21. App Availability, Updates, Discontinuation, and Removal From Distribution

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law and Apple platform rules, the developer may update, modify, suspend, limit, discontinue, remove features from, stop maintaining, stop supporting, stop developing, or remove Skyfield from distribution or the App Store at any time, for any reason, with or without prior notice.

The developer does not guarantee that Skyfield, any specific feature, any subscription feature, any local database, any compatibility layer, any astronomy calculation, any camera workflow, any export/share function, or any support channel will remain available, maintained, updated, compatible, or supported in the future. Availability of the app may depend on Apple App Store rules, Apple Developer Program status, operating system compatibility, device compatibility, Apple services, App Review decisions, legal requirements, technical limitations, security concerns, business decisions, and other factors inside or outside the developer’s control.

If Skyfield is discontinued, removed, unsupported, no longer maintained, no longer updated, or no longer compatible with a current or future operating system, some or all features may stop working, may become unavailable, may be removed, may not receive fixes, or may not remain compatible with future iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, Apple hardware, Apple services, or App Store requirements.

Users are responsible for preserving, exporting, backing up, or separately storing any local content they want to keep, where the app provides export, share, save, or copy options. The developer is not responsible for loss of access, loss of local content, loss of app availability, feature removal, lack of future updates, lack of future support, lack of compatibility, lack of data migration, failed backups, user deletion, Apple account issues, device changes, operating system changes, App Store availability, Apple service behavior, or any similar consequence caused by discontinuation, removal, non-maintenance, non-support, or non-availability of the app, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, users are not entitled to demand, claim, or receive from the developer any compensation, damages, refund, reimbursement, credit, replacement service, continued access, continued support, continued maintenance, future update, feature restoration, compatibility update, data recovery, data migration, custom export assistance, source code, project files, technical materials, roadmap commitment, advance notice, or any other remedy solely because Skyfield is modified, unsupported, discontinued, removed from sale, removed from the App Store, no longer developed, no longer updated, no longer compatible, or no longer available.

Any mandatory consumer rights, statutory refund rights, data protection rights, or other rights that cannot legally be excluded remain unaffected. Subscription cancellation, refund requests, purchase records, billing issues, taxes, renewal behavior, and App Store transaction history are managed by Apple, not by the developer. Removing the app from sale, stopping support, or stopping development does not automatically cancel an Apple-managed subscription; users must manage subscriptions through Apple App Store subscription settings.

22. International Transfers

Skyfield is designed not to transfer your local app data to a developer server. If you contact the developer by email, your message may be processed by email service providers and Apple/iCloud infrastructure, which may involve processing in countries outside your country of residence.

Apple-managed data may be processed by Apple under Apple’s own privacy practices and international transfer mechanisms.

23. Children’s Privacy

Skyfield is a general astronomy utility for general users. It is not specifically directed to children and does not knowingly collect children’s personal data through developer-controlled servers.

Parents or guardians should review device permissions, Apple Family settings, App Store settings, iCloud settings, Screen Time settings, and local device access where appropriate.

24. Security

Skyfield relies on Apple’s device security, iOS sandboxing, system permission controls, and local storage protections. You are responsible for keeping your device, passcode, Apple ID, iCloud account, backups, and operating system secure.

No app, device, operating system, network, cloud service, storage method, or security system can be guaranteed to be perfectly secure. Skyfield cannot be responsible for data access, disclosure, corruption, deletion, leakage, breach, unauthorized access, or loss caused by device compromise, malware, jailbreaks, operating system behavior, Apple service behavior, Apple security incidents, Apple data breaches, user settings, user error, lost devices, unauthorized Apple ID access, backup behavior, or circumstances outside the developer’s control, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

25. Astronomy Accuracy and Safety Notice

Skyfield uses on-device calculations and bundled offline astronomy data. Astronomy data, object visibility, event timing, compass alignment, sensor readings, sky positions, camera overlays, and professional planning tools may be limited by:

- device sensor accuracy;
- location accuracy;
- time and time zone settings;
- offline catalog limitations;
- atmospheric conditions;
- magnetic interference;
- hardware limitations;
- operating system behavior;
- calculation constraints;
- user settings or user error.

Skyfield is provided for education, planning, observation assistance, and personal astronomy use. It should not be used as the sole source for safety-critical navigation, emergency decisions, aviation, maritime use, professional observatory operations, satellite operations, or any critical activity requiring certified precision.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the developer is not responsible for losses, privacy incidents, incorrect decisions, missed observations, equipment issues, navigation errors, safety issues, or other harm caused by reliance on astronomy calculations, sensor readings, location readings, offline catalogs, camera overlays, or user interpretation of app outputs.

26. Third-Party Content and External Links

Skyfield may allow users to save or open links that they add themselves. External websites, services, stores, or platforms are not controlled by Skyfield. Their own terms and privacy policies apply.

Skyfield is not responsible for third-party websites, external services, external content, user-added links, user-imported files, downloads, or any information you choose to provide outside the app.

27. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when the app changes, Apple platform requirements change, legal requirements change, privacy practices change, or new features are added.

If future versions add developer-controlled servers, cloud sync, accounts, analytics SDKs, crash reporting SDKs, advertising SDKs, tracking, third-party SDKs, remote configuration, social features, or other data processing features, this Privacy Policy and App Store privacy disclosures should be reviewed and updated before release.

Where legally required, material changes will be communicated through appropriate means, such as an app update, App Store listing update, or updated policy link. Continued use of the app after a policy update may be treated as acceptance of the updated policy where permitted by law.

28. Contact

For privacy questions or requests, contact:

Ali Yiğit
Email: aliyigxt@icloud.com