ASTRA is built to explore the sky, not to collect your data. We keep things simple: no accounts, no tracking, and your information stays on your device.
The short version: ASTRA does not require an account, does not sell your data, and does not track you across other apps or websites. Almost everything happens on your own phone.
Information We Do Not Collect
ASTRA does not ask you to create an account or sign in. We do not collect your name, email address, phone number, or any personal profile. We do not use advertising trackers or analytics that identify you personally.
Location
ASTRA uses your device's location to calculate exactly which stars, planets, and satellites are above you, and where to point in the AR sky view. This is essential to how the app works — the sky looks different from every place on Earth.
Your location is used on your device to perform astronomy calculations. It is not stored on our servers, and it is not shared with or sold to third parties. You can control location access at any time in your device settings, though some features will not work correctly without it.
Motion & Sensors
The AR sky view uses your device's motion sensors (such as the accelerometer, gyroscope, and compass) to track how you are holding and pointing your phone, so the on-screen sky matches the real sky. This sensor data is used only on your device, in real time, and is never recorded, stored, or transmitted.
The AI Feature (Ask ASTRA)
ASTRA includes an AI astronomy companion. When you send a question to it, the text of your question is sent to our AI provider (Groq, which runs the language model) so that a response can be generated and returned to you.
Please avoid including personal or sensitive information in your questions to the AI. Your questions are processed to generate a reply and are handled according to the AI provider's own policies. ASTRA does not attach your identity to these questions, because the app has no account system.
Space & Astronomy Data
To show live information such as satellite positions, space weather, and NASA imagery, ASTRA fetches data from public sources including NASA and NOAA. These requests retrieve public astronomy data; they do not send your personal information.
Data Stored on Your Device
Some information is saved locally on your phone to make the app work smoothly — for example, your preferences and a simple daily counter for the AI feature. This data stays on your device and is removed if you delete the app.
Third-Party Services
ASTRA relies on a few external services to provide live features. When these are used, requests are sent to them, and each handles data under its own privacy policy:
- Groq — processes your questions to the AI companion and returns answers.
- NASA and NOAA — provide public satellite, space-weather, and imagery data.
- Celestrak — provides public satellite orbital data.
We do not send your name, account details, or advertising identifiers to these services, because ASTRA does not collect them.
How Your Information Is Used
The limited data ASTRA accesses is used for one purpose only: to make the app work — showing the correct sky for your location, powering the AR view, answering your astronomy questions, and displaying live space data. We do not use your information for advertising, profiling, or any purpose unrelated to the app's features.
International Users & Data Transfers
ASTRA is available worldwide. Some of the third-party services above (such as Groq and NASA) are based in the United States, so when you use those features, the relevant request may be processed on servers outside your country. By using these features, you understand that this transfer takes place. Because ASTRA does not collect personal profiles, the information involved is limited to the feature request itself.
Your Privacy Rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights under laws such as the EU/UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA), or India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP). These can include the right to access, correct, or delete your data, and the right not to have your personal information sold.
ASTRA makes these rights simple by design: because we do not create accounts or store your personal data on our servers, there is no personal profile of you for us to hold, share, or sell. All app data lives on your own device, and you can remove it at any time by deleting the app. If you have any questions or requests regarding your data, you can contact us at the email below.
Data Retention & Security
Because ASTRA stores your data on your device rather than on our servers, we do not retain personal information about you. Data held on your device is protected by your device's own security. Requests sent to third-party services are transmitted over encrypted (HTTPS) connections.
Children's Privacy
ASTRA is a general-audience astronomy app suitable for all ages and does not knowingly collect personal information from anyone, including children under the age of 13 (or the equivalent minimum age in your country). If you believe a child has provided personal information through the app, please contact us and we will address it.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as ASTRA grows and adds new features. When we do, we will revise the date at the top of this page. Continued use of the app after changes means you accept the updated policy.
Contact
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how ASTRA handles data, please email us at astraskywatch@gmail.com or reach out through our Support page.