Terms of Service

Welcome to Cosmos Observatory. By accessing or using our website at https://cosmosobservatory.com("the Site"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Site.

Please read these Terms carefully before using our services. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Cosmos Observatory.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Your continued use of the Site following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Description of Service

Cosmos Observatory is a free, publicly accessible website that aggregates and presents data from NASA and other space agencies. Our services include, but are not limited to:

• Display of NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)
• Mars rover imagery and data from Curiosity and Perseverance
• Real-time International Space Station tracking
• Near-Earth asteroid monitoring and data
• Rocket launch schedule information
• Solar system and exoplanet data exploration
• Space weather monitoring
• Educational content including glossary terms and articles
• Space calculation tools

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the service at any time without notice.

3. NASA Data Attribution

A significant portion of the data, images, and information displayed on Cosmos Observatoryis sourced from NASA's publicly available APIs and datasets. We acknowledge the following:

• NASA Media Usage:Most NASA-created images, videos, and audio files are in the public domain. NASA's media usage guidelines apply. NASA material is not used to imply that NASA endorses this website or its content.
• Third-Party Copyrights: Some content displayed on the Site, particularly APOD images, may be copyrighted by their respective creators. Copyright information is displayed alongside such content when available.
• NASA Logo & Insignia: The NASA logo, NASA seal, and NASA insignia are not used on this website. These are protected by law and may not be used without permission.
• No Endorsement: Cosmos Observatory is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NASA or any government agency.

For more information about NASA's media usage guidelines, visit NASA's Brand Center.

4. API Usage and Data Sources

Our website integrates with multiple third-party APIs. By using the Site, you acknowledge that:

• Data availability depends on the operational status of external APIs (NASA, Open Notify, The Space Devs, etc.).
• API rate limits may temporarily affect data availability or freshness.
• We cache data to optimize performance and reduce API load; therefore, some data may not reflect real-time conditions.
• We are not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of data provided by external APIs.
• Changes to external API terms or availability may affect Site functionality without prior notice.

5. User Conduct

When using the Site, you agree not to:

• Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable laws or regulations
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our servers, databases, or any other part of the Site's infrastructure
• Interfere with or disrupt the Site or servers connected to the Site
• Scrape, crawl, or use automated means to access the Site beyond what is expressly permitted by these Terms and our robots.txt file
• Reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, or exploit any portion of the Site for commercial purposes without express written permission
• Submit false, misleading, or malicious content through contact forms or other input mechanisms
• Attempt to reverse-engineer, decompile, or disassemble any software or technology used by the Site

6. Intellectual Property

The Site's original content, features, functionality, design, and code are owned by Cosmos Observatory and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Website design, layout, and user interface
• Original written content, articles, and educational materials
• Custom graphics, icons, and visual elements
• Source code and software implementations
• Data visualizations and interactive tools

NASA data and imagery displayed on the Site remain subject to NASA's terms of use and applicable copyright laws.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties and Data Accuracy

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT, DATA, AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Important Disclaimer Regarding Data Accuracy:

• Space data displayed on this Site is sourced from external APIs and may contain inaccuracies, delays, or errors.
• ISS position, asteroid tracking, and launch schedule data are approximations and should not be relied upon for safety-critical decisions.
• We do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any data presented.
• This Site is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used as a primary source for scientific research without verification from official sources.

8. Limitation of Liability

IN NO EVENT SHALL COSMOS OBSERVATORY, ITS OPERATORS, CONTRIBUTORS, OR AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH:

• Your use or inability to use the Site
• Any inaccuracies in data or content displayed on the Site
• Any decisions made based on information from the Site
• Unauthorized access to or alteration of your transmissions or data
• Any third-party content or conduct on the Site

9. DMCA Takedown Procedure

We respect the intellectual property rights of others. If you believe that any content on our Site infringes your copyright, please submit a DMCA takedown notice with the following information:

1. A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on their behalf
2. Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
3. Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing and its location on the Site (URL)
4. Your contact information (name, address, telephone number, and email address)
5. A statement that you have a good faith belief that the use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law
6. A statement, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that you are authorized to act on behalf of the copyright owner

Please submit DMCA notices through our Contact pagewith the subject "DMCA Takedown Notice." We will respond to valid notices within 48 hours and remove or disable access to the infringing material promptly.

10. External Links

The Site may contain links to external websites and resources that are not operated by us. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites. You acknowledge and agree that Cosmos Observatory shall not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused by your use of any such external content, goods, or services.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Cosmos Observatoryand its operators from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Site, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with applicable laws, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising out of these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved through binding arbitration or in the appropriate courts of competent jurisdiction.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be deemed modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

14. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material, we will provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at our sole discretion. By continuing to access or use the Site after those revisions become effective, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms.

15. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through our Contact page or via our GitHub repository at https://github.com/cosmos-observatory.