We collect only the information reasonably needed to operate the website, answer enquiries, provide astronomy sessions and masterclasses, process bookings and keep appropriate business and payment records. We do not sell personal information.
1. Who we are
Show Me The Sky provides guided astronomy experiences, including live remote observation sessions, astronomy masterclasses, educational material and related astronomy tools through showmethesky.com.
For the purposes of UK data protection law, Show Me The Sky is the controller of personal information collected directly through this website and our booking services.
2. Information we collect
Depending on how you use the site, we may collect:
- Contact details, such as your name and email address.
- Booking information, including the session, date, language, selected masterclass topic and booking status.
- Payment-related records, such as transaction identifiers, amount, currency and payment status returned by PayPal. We do not receive or store your full payment-card details.
- Messages and enquiries submitted through the contact form or by email.
- Account information if you use a login-protected area of the site.
- Technical information that may be recorded automatically by the web server, such as IP address, browser information, request time and error/security logs.
- Session preferences you choose to share with us so that we can tailor an astronomy experience.
3. How we use your information
We may use personal information to:
- process and administer bookings;
- send booking confirmations and practical session information;
- answer questions and contact requests;
- deliver live observation sessions, masterclasses and related customer support;
- keep financial, transaction and business records;
- protect the website, investigate errors and prevent misuse or fraud;
- improve the reliability and usability of the website and our services;
- comply with legal, tax, accounting or regulatory obligations.
We do not use information collected for a booking to send unrelated marketing unless you have separately asked to receive it or another lawful basis applies.
4. Our lawful bases
Under UK GDPR, we generally rely on one or more of the following lawful bases:
- Contract — where processing is necessary to take a booking, provide a paid service or take steps you request before entering into a contract.
- Legitimate interests — for operating and securing the website, responding to ordinary enquiries, maintaining appropriate records and improving our services, where those interests are not overridden by your rights.
- Legal obligation — where information must be retained or disclosed to comply with law, tax or accounting requirements.
- Consent — where we specifically ask for permission, for example for optional communications where consent is required.
5. Payments and PayPal
Payments are processed by PayPal. When you continue to PayPal, PayPal processes your payment details under its own privacy policy and terms. Show Me The Sky receives information needed to identify and administer the transaction, such as a transaction reference, payment amount, currency and payment status.
Show Me The Sky does not store your full card number, card security code or PayPal password.
6. When we share information
We may share limited personal information with service providers where this is necessary to operate the website or provide a service. These may include payment, email, hosting and infrastructure providers.
We may also disclose information where required by law, to establish or defend legal rights, or where reasonably necessary to protect users, the website or our services.
We do not sell your personal information.
International processing
Some service providers may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where UK data protection law requires safeguards for an international transfer, we expect the relevant provider or transfer mechanism to provide the required protection.
7. Cookies and similar technologies
The website may use essential cookies or session storage that are necessary for functions such as login, security and maintaining a session. Your browser can be configured to block or remove cookies, although doing so may prevent some parts of the site from working correctly.
If we introduce non-essential analytics, advertising or similar tracking technologies, this policy and any cookie controls should be updated accordingly.
8. How long we keep information
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including to provide services, respond to enquiries, resolve disputes and meet legal, accounting and tax obligations.
Booking and payment records may need to be retained for several years for accounting and tax purposes. Routine enquiries and technical logs are normally kept for shorter periods unless there is a reason to retain them, for example an unresolved support, security or legal issue.
9. Children and family bookings
Astronomy sessions may be purchased by a parent or guardian for a child or young person. Where a participant is under 18, the person making the booking is responsible for ensuring that they have appropriate authority and that suitable adult supervision is provided where required.
We do not intentionally ask children to provide payment information directly. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us inappropriately, please contact us so that we can review and, where appropriate, remove it.
10. Your data-protection rights
Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights to ask us to:
- provide access to personal information we hold about you;
- correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- erase personal information;
- restrict how information is used;
- provide certain information in a portable format;
- stop processing based on legitimate interests where you have a valid objection;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to legal exceptions. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.
You also have the right to complain to the UK Information Commissioner's Office if you are concerned about how your personal information has been handled.
11. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, alteration or disclosure. No internet service can guarantee absolute security, so we cannot promise that a security incident will never occur.
12. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, technology or legal obligations change. The current version will be published on this page with an updated revision date.
13. Contact us
Questions about your privacy?
Contact Show Me The Sky at avigner@gmail.com or use the contact form.