Privacy policy.
Last updated: 25 October 2026. The Astronomy Lab (theastronomylab.com) is a free educational website. This page explains, in plain language, what data is involved when you use it and how you can limit it.
No accounts
You never need to sign up or log in, and we don’t ask for your name or email address. Calculator inputs and quiz answers are processed in your browser and are not sent to us. The site saves at most two small things in your browser’s local storage: your cookie choice (see below), and, if you arrive from a school platform (Google Classroom, Canvas or Schoology) or through a Share to Google Classroom link, an “ad-free until” date for 30 days. Nothing else. When you choose Copy link in a lab, the link contains the values you set, and clipboard access is used only for that.
Usage statistics (Google Analytics)
We use Google Analytics (measurement ID G-JB1EBJHB4W) to count visits and see which pages are useful. Google receives information such as the pages you view, your browser and device type, the site that referred you and your approximate location derived from your IP address, and sets first-party cookies to recognize repeat visits. We use these reports only in aggregate to improve the site. Read how Google uses information from sites that use its services.
Advertising (Adsterra)
Ads help keep the lab free. Banner and native ads are served by Adsterra and appear in clearly labeled “Advertisement” spaces. They load only when that space scrolls close to view. When an ad loads, Adsterra and its advertising partners receive standard technical information such as your IP address, browser details and the page address, and may use cookies or similar identifiers to deliver ads, measure them, limit how often you see the same ad and prevent fraud. We don’t pass your quiz answers, calculator values or any other personal details to advertisers. See Adsterra’s cookies policy for details.
No ads for students in class. Students who arrive from Google Classroom, Canvas or Schoology, or through a Share to Google Classroom link from this site, see no ads on that device for 30 days. No ad code is loaded for them during that time. The teacher pages and answer keys never show ads.
Other services
- Google Fonts supplies the typefaces, so your browser requests them from Google.
- NASA Image and Video Library: searches in the image library are sent to NASA’s public API and the images load directly from NASA. Results are kept only in memory while the page is open.
- Hosting: our hosting provider, Cloudflare, processes standard request logs to deliver and protect the site.
Cookie choices
Visitors in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and Switzerland see a small cookie banner. Until you choose, Google Analytics runs without cookies and no ads load. Accept allows analytics and advertising cookies; Reject keeps analytics cookie-free and shows no ads. Your choice is stored in your browser for 180 days, and you can change it at any time with Cookie settings in the footer.
Your choices
- Block or delete cookies, including third-party cookies, in your browser settings, or use a private window.
- Use an ad or content blocker. Every lab, planet guide and calculator still works without ads.
- Install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
- Learn more about Google’s privacy policy.
Changes and contact
If this policy changes, we’ll update it here and change the date above. Questions? Email info@theastronomylab.com.