Frequently asked questions
Last updated: March 29, 2026
General
How do I know what to observe tonight?
Use the weather and astronomy analysis for your saved observing location. Stellara combines cloud cover, seeing, transparency, moonlight, sky darkness, and time-window information to help you decide if the night is worth setting up for.
How accurate is the weather data?
It is planning guidance, not a guarantee. Stellara uses public weather and astronomy data sources, but the sky can still change fast and providers can disagree.
How does the ISS tracker work?
It uses ISS orbital elements (TLE) and pass calculations to estimate when and where the ISS will be visible.
What telescope do I need?
You do not need a telescope to start. Naked-eye observing and binoculars are enough for the Moon, bright planets, star fields, and ISS passes. If you want a first telescope, a small 70 to 80 mm refractor is a practical beginner option.
Why did Stellara get built?
It started because one person could not find a single tool that covered the practical parts of amateur stargazing in one place, so they built it.
AI assistant
How does the AI assistant work?
When you send a message, Stellara sends the message, recent chat history, your telescope, your experience level, and, when available, your observing location, coordinates, timezone, and current sky conditions to Groq so it can generate a reply that matches your setup and sky.
Is the AI assistant free?
Yes. Free accounts currently have a daily limit of 10 assistant messages. Pro removes that daily limit in the current codebase.
Does the assistant store chat history?
Yes. Stellara stores assistant chat threads and messages in Supabase so chats can continue between page loads. You can clear the assistant chat, and the app also stores a local browser copy of recent assistant context for convenience.
Why does the assistant ask about my telescope and experience?
Those two fields are used to change how the answer is written and what targets are realistic. A beginner with a small scope should not get the same answer as an advanced user with larger gear.
Privacy and data
What does Stellara do with my data?
It uses your data to run the account system, community posts, saved observing locations, notifications, and the AI assistant. It also sends the minimum needed data to outside providers for weather, astronomy, geocoding, hosting, and AI replies.
Is my location stored permanently?
Not unless you save it. Saved observing locations are stored in your account until you remove them or close the account. The assistant and some page helpers can also keep a local browser copy of your current location choice for convenience. Raw coordinates are sent to weather and astronomy providers when you request local forecasts or sky data.
Can I delete my account and all my data?
There is no public self-serve account deletion flow in the current codebase. Email stellara.data@gmail.com with your username and account email and ask for account closure and data deletion.
Is Stellara GDPR compliant?
Stellara is operated from Italy and the legal pages now describe the data handled, legal bases, third parties, retention, and user rights. If you want access, correction, deletion, export, or objection, email stellara.data@gmail.com.
Pro and billing
What is the Pro plan?
In the current codebase, Pro removes the assistant daily message limit, raises the saved location limit to 10, and unlocks advanced planner and observation export capabilities.
When does billing start?
Billing is not active yet. The planned price is €4/month for Stellara Pro. The current UI says early supporter pricing is locked and that users will be notified before billing goes live.
Support
How do I report a bug?
Use the Contact page, Discord, or GitHub issues. Include URL, steps, and error text if possible.
Who should I contact for privacy or legal requests?
Email stellara.data@gmail.com.