Controller
Christian Schwarzer
Einsteinstr. 21
47906 Kempen
Email: c-schwarzer@web.de
In short
This site is a private hobby project. No ads, no analytics, no tracking, no sharing of data with third parties. Fonts and images are served from this server, not from external providers.
Server logs
When you visit, the web server stores technically necessary data in log files: IP address, date and time, page requested, browser type. This serves secure operation and troubleshooting (legitimate interest, Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR). Logs are deleted after 7 days at the latest and are not combined with other data.
Cookies
This site only uses a technically necessary session cookie. It remembers which images you liked, protects forms from abuse and enables admin login. It is not used for analytics or advertising and is deleted when you close your browser.
Such necessary cookies do not require consent under German law (§ 25(2) TTDSG) – which is why there is no cookie banner here.
Comments and guestbook
If you write a comment or guestbook entry, the name you enter, your text and the timestamp are stored. You do not have to use your real name – a nickname is fine. No email address is requested.
IP addresses are explicitly NOT stored with your entry.
Entries are reviewed before publication and only shown after approval. The legal basis is your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), given by submitting the form. You may request deletion of your entry at any time – an informal email is enough.
Entries remain stored until you or I delete them. If an image is deleted, its comments are removed as well.
Like function
Clicking the heart only increases a counter on the server. No personal data is stored – just the number. The fact that you liked an image is remembered only in your own browser session.
Videos and live stream (YouTube)
Videos and the live stream are only loaded when you explicitly click them (“two-click” approach). Before that, no connection to YouTube or Google is made. Preview images are stored on this server.
If you start a video, a connection to YouTube (Google Ireland Ltd., Ireland) is established. Data such as your IP address is transmitted to Google; Google may associate behaviour with users. We use the enhanced privacy mode (youtube-nocookie.com). Legal basis is your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR), given by clicking “Load”.
Further information: Google privacy policy at policies.google.com/privacy
Share buttons
The share buttons are plain links, not embedded scripts. A connection to the respective service is only made when you click. No data is transferred beforehand.
Your rights
You have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing of, and port your data, and to object. You may withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future. Simply contact the email address above.
You also have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority. The competent authority is the State Commissioner for Data Protection of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Encryption
This site is served exclusively via encrypted HTTPS.
Image rights
All astrophotos are my own work and protected by copyright. Use without permission is not allowed. Comparison images from NASA/ESA (Hubble) are marked as such.
Last updated: 05.08.2026