Privacy Policy
In short
- ExoExplorer collects no personal data. There is no account, no advertising, no analytics and no crash reporting.
- The app contacts one server, the NASA Exoplanet Archive, to download planet data.
- Summaries are written on your device by Apple Intelligence and never leave it.
- Everything the app stores stays on your device and is deleted with the app.
Who we are
ExoExplorer is made by Jonathan Logan, an independent developer (“we”, “us”). This policy covers the ExoExplorer app for iPhone and iPad and this website, exoexplorer.io. If you have a question about it, email support@exoexplorer.io.
What the app collects
Nothing. ExoExplorer has no sign-in and contains no advertising, analytics, tracking or crash-reporting code. We receive no information about you or about how you use the app.
The one network request
The app downloads the current table of confirmed planets from the NASA Exoplanet Archive (exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu), which is operated by Caltech/IPAC. It does this when you open the app, at most once a day, and when you tap Refresh in Settings. The request asks only for planetary data and carries no account, identifier or information about you.
As with any internet request, the archive’s servers can see your device’s IP address. How they handle it is described in the archive’s own privacy notice.
Summaries written on your device
On iPhones and iPads with Apple Intelligence, ExoExplorer uses Apple’s on-device language model to write short summaries of stars and planets. The model runs entirely on your device. Its only input is public archive data about the object you are viewing, and its output is stored on your device. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else.
What is stored on your device
Your settings, the downloaded archive data and cached summaries are kept in the app’s own storage on your device. We don’t sync or back them up. iOS may include them in your device backups, under Apple’s terms. Deleting the app deletes them.
Information Apple shares with developers
Apple distributes ExoExplorer through the App Store and gives developers aggregated statistics such as download counts. If you have chosen to share analytics with app developers (Settings › Privacy & Security › Analytics & Improvements), Apple may also send us crash reports and aggregated usage data that do not identify you. Apple controls this, and you can turn it off at any time. See Apple’s privacy policy.
This website
exoexplorer.io is a static website hosted on GitHub Pages. It sets no cookies, runs no analytics, advertising or third-party scripts, and loads nothing from other domains. GitHub, which serves the pages, receives your IP address and standard request information and may log them for security; see the GitHub General Privacy Statement. The domain’s DNS is provided by Cloudflare.
If you email us
We receive your email address and whatever you write, and use them only to reply. Our email is hosted by Apple’s iCloud Mail. We don’t share your messages or add you to any mailing list, and we will delete our correspondence with you if you ask.
Children
ExoExplorer is suitable for all ages and collects no personal information from anyone, including children under 13.
Your rights
Because the app and website don’t collect personal data, there is nothing for us to access, correct, export or delete, apart from any emails you have sent us. We do not sell or share personal information, as those terms are used in the California Consumer Privacy Act. If you are in the EU or UK, the only personal data we handle is correspondence you choose to send us, which we process to reply to you.
Changes to this policy
If the app’s data practices change — for example, if a version adds a new network request — we will update this policy before that version is released and change the date at the top.
Contact
Jonathan Logan
support@exoexplorer.io