Store your own observing locations safely, set sky/environment details and use public observing-site pages without exposing private coordinates unnecessarily.
Locations power practical astronomy features such as weather, target visibility and observing records. Astro Corner distinguishes your personal locations from public observing-site pages so exact home/private coordinates do not need to become public.
Create a personal observing location
Add the place from which you observe, including the name you recognise, timezone and coordinates where appropriate. You can set one location as your default for planning features.
Use a friendly public label separately from exact coordinates when you want a record to say roughly where you observed without revealing the precise site.
Describe the observing environment
Store useful context such as Bortle/SQM information and horizon/environment details where the form offers them. These values make later observations more meaningful and improve planning context.
Horizon information is especially useful for Tonight because a target can be geometrically above the horizon but still hidden behind your real local skyline.
Protect precise coordinates
Treat a home, garden, workplace or regular private observing spot as sensitive location information. Use the most restrictive visibility that fits the record and rely on public labels when exact coordinates are unnecessary to share.
Review the visibility of related observations/media too; privacy works best when the location and the records that reference it are considered together.
Public observing sites
The public Observing Sites area is for locations intended to be discoverable. Site pages can contain sky quality, facilities, accessibility, parking, safety notes, reports, events, images and weather-related context when available.
Use a public site page when you are researching somewhere suitable to visit; use My Locations for your private/personal observing records.
Create a personal observing location
Add the place from which you observe, including the name you recognise, timezone and coordinates where appropriate. You can set one location as your default for planning features.
Use a friendly public label separately from exact coordinates when you want a record to say roughly where you observed without revealing the precise site.
Describe the observing environment
Store useful context such as Bortle/SQM information and horizon/environment details where the form offers them. These values make later observations more meaningful and improve planning context.
Horizon information is especially useful for Tonight because a target can be geometrically above the horizon but still hidden behind your real local skyline.
Protect precise coordinates
Treat a home, garden, workplace or regular private observing spot as sensitive location information. Use the most restrictive visibility that fits the record and rely on public labels when exact coordinates are unnecessary to share.
Review the visibility of related observations/media too; privacy works best when the location and the records that reference it are considered together.
Public observing sites
The public Observing Sites area is for locations intended to be discoverable. Site pages can contain sky quality, facilities, accessibility, parking, safety notes, reports, events, images and weather-related context when available.
Use a public site page when you are researching somewhere suitable to visit; use My Locations for your private/personal observing records.