Starspot Privacy Policy
Effective date: October 29, 2026
The developer of Starspot ("the app") does not collect your personal information. The Google AdMob ads in the app do use some device information to show ads (see section 4). Below is how the app's features and information are handled.
1. Personal information we collect
The app has no sign-up, and the developer does not collect, or store on any server, any personal information such as your name, email address or phone number.
2. Device features the app uses
- Camera: used to show the names of stars, the Moon and planets on top of the view of the sky, and to find bright lights in the picture to line up their positions. The video is processed only on your device and is never saved or sent.
- Location: used to work out which objects are in the sky where you are and when the ISS will pass over. Your location is used only for calculations on your device and is never sent anywhere. The last location is saved only on your device so it can be shown quickly the next time you open the app.
- Orientation and motion sensors: used to work out which part of the sky your phone is pointing at. Sensor readings are never saved or sent.
- Notifications (Pro feature, only if you turn them on): the times when the ISS passes and sky events happen are calculated on your device and scheduled as notifications on your phone. Notification contents and your location are never sent anywhere.
You can use the app even if you deny any of these permissions; in that case you can use "Explore without camera" mode. You can change permissions at any time in your phone's Settings app.
3. Internet use
The app connects to the public services below to get up-to-date orbit data for the ISS (International Space Station). Your location and personal information are not sent. However, as with any internet connection, these services may see your device's IP address.
- Where the ISS at? (api.wheretheiss.at)
- CelesTrak (celestrak.org)
4. Ads (Google AdMob)
To stay free, the app shows Google AdMob ads (a banner at the bottom of the screen, a full-screen ad when you come back to the app from another app, and rewarded ads that you choose to watch). If you buy Starspot Pro, no ads are shown. To show ads, measure how they perform and prevent fraudulent clicks, Google may collect and process the information below. The developer does not receive or store this information.
- Advertising identifier (the Android advertising ID; on iPhone, the IDFA only if you allow tracking)
- IP address (which can be used to estimate your approximate area)
- Device information such as device type, operating system and app version
- Records of ads viewed or tapped
Camera video, precise location (GPS) and orientation sensor readings are not used for ads.
If you don't want personalized ads, you can turn them off as follows. Ads will still appear, but they won't be based on your interests.
- Android: Settings → Google → Ads → Delete advertising ID
- iPhone: Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking → turn off Allow Apps to Request to Track
- Regions where consent is required, such as the European Economic Area (EEA) and the UK: the app asks for your consent the first time you open it, and you can change your choice at any time in the app under Settings → Ad privacy settings.
To learn how Google uses this information, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services and the Google Privacy Policy.
Apart from ads, the app contains no analytics or tracking tools.
5. In-app purchase (Starspot Pro)
Purchases of and payments for Starspot Pro are handled by the Apple App Store or Google Play. The developer does not receive payment information such as card numbers, or account information; the app only checks with the store, from your device, whether you have made the purchase. Information about payments and refunds is handled under each store's privacy policy.
6. Children's privacy
Because the developer does not collect anyone's personal information, it does not collect personal information from children under 14 either. The app is not directed primarily at children, and ads are provided by Google as described in section 4.
7. Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the changes and the new effective date will be posted on this page.
- October 30, 2026: English version added
- October 29, 2026: Google AdMob ads added (section 4); notes on notifications and in-app purchase added (sections 2 and 5)
- October 28, 2026: First version
8. Contact
For questions about privacy, please email
weekendinfactory@gmail.com