What is collected

  • Proposals. If you send a proposal, we store its title and description, and your email address if you choose to give one.
  • The mailing list. If you sign up for updates, we store your email address and the time you signed up.
  • Your network address. It is held in the server's memory to limit abuse of the proposal form, the sign-up form, and the bench. It is not saved to our database, and it is cleared within two hours.
  • Pages you read. Each time a page opens we count its address, the site that linked you here, any campaign tag in the link, your country, and whether you use a phone, tablet or computer, with the broad name of your browser and system. We do not keep your network address or your browser's full description. If you accept cookies, the count also carries the random identifiers described under Cookies.
  • Your cookie choice. When you accept or decline cookies, we count the answer and its time, without anything that identifies you.
  • The bench. Your recent settings stay in your own browser. When you run the bench, the settings and the reply are recorded without anything that identifies you.

What is not collected

There are no visitor accounts or advertising on this site, and it loads no scripts or fonts from other companies. Our counts of visits stay with us and are not shared with analytics or advertising companies. Searching happens in your browser, so what you type is not sent to us.

Cookies

This site sets only its own cookies, and only these:

  • tao_consent remembers whether you accepted or declined cookies, so we do not ask again. It holds only that answer and lasts a year.
  • tao_vid is a random identifier that lets us tell a returning reader from a new one. It is set only if you accept, and lasts a year.
  • tao_sid is a random identifier that groups the pages you read in one visit. It is set only if you accept, and ends after 30 minutes without reading a page.

If you decline, or your browser sends Global Privacy Control, the last two are not set, and any already set are removed. Pages you read are still counted, without them. You can change your answer at any time with “Cookie settings” at the foot of every page.

How visits are counted

We use these counts to see which pages are read and how people find the site. Only the editor can see them, and they are deleted after 13 months.

How proposals are used

We read each proposal to decide whether to take it up. We may edit a proposal and publish its title and description, without your name. Proposals are kept until we delete them, and you can ask us to remove yours.

Your email address on a proposal

We use it only to reply about your proposal. It is never published and only the editor can see it. It is deleted 90 days after you send the proposal, or sooner if you ask or the proposal is deleted.

The mailing list

We use your address only to send you new articles, experiments, and news about the observatory, including any paid membership we may offer. It is never published and only the editor can see it. It is kept until you ask to be removed.

Who else handles your information

We do not sell it or share it for marketing. Our hosting provider runs the servers and may keep standard network logs for a limited time. When we write to you, the message and your address pass through our email provider. We would disclose information if the law required it.

Your choices

You can ask to see, correct, or delete what we hold about you. Send a proposal with “Privacy” in the title, and leave an email so we can reply.

Children

This site is not intended for children under 13, and they should not send proposals or sign up for updates.

Changes

If this policy changes, this page and its date will change with it.