Astronomy Open Night 2026 — Privacy Policy

Last updated: 10 September 2026

Astronomy Open Night 2026 is developed by Leo Alavi and Mohammad Raouf Abedini for Astronomy Night – FSE Outreach Team.

This Privacy Policy applies specifically to the Astronomy Open Night 2026 mobile applications for iOS and Android and the Astronomy Open Night 2026 web application. It does not apply to any unrelated product, application or website.

Data stored locally

My Night and favourites, Astronomy Passport progress, preferences (including language and appearance), and your Google Maps consent state are stored locally on your device. The web application uses browser localStorage. The iOS and Android applications use app-local storage. We do not operate a server that stores or gives us access to this app-managed local data. On iOS and Android, device or system backups may include local app data, depending on your device and backup settings.

Location

Location access is optional. If you allow it, your location is used locally for campus and map functionality, such as showing your position and, in the iOS and Android applications, pointing the compass towards a venue. The app does not store your location or send it to the developers. When you request walking directions using Google Maps, the route request sent to Google may include your precise or approximate location as the starting point and the selected destination. The campus map remains available if you do not allow location.

Camera and QR codes

In the native iOS and Android applications, you may choose to use the camera to scan Astronomy Passport QR codes. Camera images are processed for scanning and are not stored or uploaded by the app. Manual station-code entry is also available. The web application uses manual station-code entry and does not rely on camera scanning.

Android only: Google ML Kit

The Android application uses Google ML Kit barcode scanning when you use the QR scanner. Google states that the Android ML Kit SDK collects device and application information, per-installation identifiers, performance metrics, API configuration, feature event information and error codes for diagnostics and usage analytics. Google states that this data is encrypted in transit using HTTPS. This ML Kit disclosure does not apply to the iOS or web applications.

Google Maps and walking directions

Google Maps and Google Routes processing occurs only when you use the related Google-powered map or walking-directions feature and the required consent has been recorded. Depending on the platform and feature used, Google may process the map or route request, route start and destination, IP address, device, application, browser and request information, a Maps SDK-specific pseudonymous identifier, crash diagnostics, and map interactions such as panning and zooming. Google processes this information under its own privacy policy (https://policies.google.com/privacy). You can change your Google Maps consent choice in Settings.

Accounts, advertising, analytics and tracking

The applications have no account or sign-in. We do not show advertising, operate our own analytics service, use tracking pixels, track you across other applications or websites, or sell your personal data. Google may process service and diagnostic data when you use the Google Maps, Routes or Android ML Kit features described above; that processing is not a developer-operated analytics service.

Keeping and deleting your data

App-managed local data remains on your device until it is removed. Settings → Delete my data clears My Night, Astronomy Passport progress, favourites and the Google Maps consent state. It intentionally retains language and appearance preferences. Deleting local app data does not automatically delete information already processed by Google or copies maintained through device or system backups. Google controls retention and deletion of information processed by its services under its own policies.

Contact and support

Privacy and developer questions: leo@leoalavi.dev. Event and support questions: astronomyopennight@mq.edu.au. Official event information: https://event.mq.edu.au/astronomy-open-night/. The canonical Privacy Policy is available at https://aon.syllabus-sync.app/privacy.

Developed by Leo Alavi and Mohammad Raouf Abedini for Astronomy Night – FSE Outreach Team.