Laminar Privacy Policy
Last updated: January 2026
Overview
Laminar is a planetary imaging capture application developed by Mac Observatory (Andrew Burwell). We respect your privacy and have designed Laminar to collect the minimum data necessary to function.
The short version: Laminar does not create accounts, does not track you, does not use analytics, and does not sell or share your personal information. Your imaging data stays on your device.
Data We Access
Location Data
What: Your approximate geographic coordinates
Why: To fetch local weather conditions from Open-Meteo for the Sky Quality feature
Where it goes: Sent to Open-Meteo's servers (api.open-meteo.com) to retrieve weather data
Stored: Not stored permanently by Laminar; queried fresh each session
You can deny location access and Laminar will still function — the weather and Sky Quality features will simply be unavailable.
Open-Meteo's privacy policy: https://open-meteo.com/en/terms
Camera Access
What: Video feed from connected ZWO ASI cameras
Why: Core functionality — previewing and capturing planetary images
Where it goes: Nowhere. Video data is processed locally and saved to files you specify.
Stored: Only when you initiate a capture, saved as SER files to your chosen location
Files and Metadata
What: SER video files with optional metadata (observer name, telescope, timestamp)
Why: Industry-standard format for planetary imaging
Where it goes: Saved locally to a folder you choose
Stored: Entirely under your control
The observer name and telescope fields are optional and only included if you configure them in Settings.
Diagnostic Logs
What: Technical logs recording app operations, errors, and camera communications
Why: Troubleshooting issues
Where it goes: Stored locally at ~/Library/Logs/Laminar/
Stored: Kept on your Mac until you delete them
Logs are never sent automatically. If you contact support, we may ask you to share logs voluntarily to diagnose problems.
Data We Do NOT Collect
- ❌ Personal accounts or login information
- ❌ Analytics or usage tracking
- ❌ Advertising identifiers
- ❌ Crash reports (unless you choose to share via Apple)
- ❌ Any data from your captures or images
- ❌ Contacts, calendars, or other personal data
Third-Party Services
Laminar uses one third-party service:
| Service | Purpose | Data Sent |
|---|---|---|
| Open-Meteo | Weather data | Approximate location (latitude/longitude) |
Open-Meteo is a free, open-source weather API. We chose it specifically because it does not require user accounts or API keys, and has a privacy-respecting approach. See their terms at https://open-meteo.com/en/terms
Data Storage and Security
- All capture data remains on your device
- Laminar is sandboxed per macOS security requirements
- We have no servers that receive or store your data
- Location is queried live and not persisted
Children's Privacy
Laminar does not knowingly collect any personal information from children under 13. The app does not require accounts or collect personal data beyond the location functionality described above.
Your Choices
- Location access: Can be granted or denied in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Location Services
- Diagnostic logs: Can be deleted from
~/Library/Logs/Laminar/ - Metadata: Observer and telescope fields are optional
Changes to This Policy
If we make material changes to this privacy policy, we will update the "Last updated" date and, for significant changes, notify users through the app or our website.
Contact
For privacy questions or concerns:
Email: privacy@macobservatory.com
Website: macobservatory.com
Developer: Andrew Burwell, Mac Observatory
App Store Privacy Labels
For transparency, here is how we respond to Apple's App Store privacy questions:
Data Used to Track You: None
Data Linked to You: None
Data Not Linked to You: Coarse location (for weather only)
Mac Observatory · macobservatory.com