Terms of Service

WELCOME

These terms govern your use of the website at auroraoutpost.com and the Aurora Outpost web application (the “Service”). Aurora Outpost is operated by Scott Lefevre, a sole proprietor in New York, USA (“we”, “us”). By creating an account or using the Service, you agree to these terms. If you don’t agree, please don’t use the Service.

ELIGIBILITY

You must be at least 13 years old to use the Service. If you’re under 18, you should have permission from a parent or guardian. Aurora Outpost is not designed for use by children.

YOUR ACCOUNT

You’re responsible for keeping your account credentials secure and for everything that happens under your account. Don’t share your password. If you suspect unauthorized access, contact us at scott@auroraoutpost.com.

One person, one account. Don’t impersonate someone else, create accounts with reserved/staff usernames, or use automation to register accounts.

ACCEPTABLE USE

Don’t use the Service to:

• Post false sighting reports, fake locations, or content intended to mislead other chasers
• Submit content that is hateful, harassing, sexually explicit, or that promotes violence
• Share copyrighted material you don’t have rights to
• Reveal another person’s location or identity without their consent
• Scrape, mirror, or systematically extract data from the Service
• Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to bypass any access controls
• Send unsolicited messages or otherwise harass other users
• Violate any applicable law in your jurisdiction

We reserve the right to remove content, suspend accounts, or refuse service for violations.

USER CONTENT

You retain ownership of content you submit (sighting reports, photos, location notes, profile info). By submitting content to the Service, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, distribute within the Service, and create derivative works (e.g., generating low-resolution thumbnails, anonymized historical sighting data) as necessary to operate the Service.

You represent that you own or have permission to share the content you submit. Don’t upload other people’s photos without permission.

You can delete your content at any time. Deleted content is removed from active display but may persist in backups for up to 90 days.

FIELD SAFETY DISCLAIMER

Aurora Outpost is a tool for finding and viewing the aurora. Going out to chase aurora involves real-world risks: cold weather, remote locations, driving at night, wildlife, private property, etc. You are responsible for your own safety. When visiting any location shared on the Service, respect private property, posted hours, and applicable laws. Locations and bortle ratings are submitted by community members and are not independently verified.

DATA AND FORECASTS

Space weather data displayed in the Service comes from public sources (NOAA, NASA, CCMC, etc.). We don’t guarantee accuracy or availability of any forecast or alert. Aurora forecasting is inherently uncertain — predictions can be wrong. The substorm timing model and CME classifier are decision aids, not guarantees.

DONATIONS

Donations are voluntary and non-refundable except as required by law or processor (Stripe) policy. Donations do not unlock any premium features — the Service stays free for everyone regardless. Donor recognition (badges, optional Wall of Founders listing) is at our discretion.

AFFILIATE LINKS

The Field Kit page at /gear contains affiliate links to Amazon and other retailers. We earn a small commission on qualifying purchases. The price you pay is unchanged. Required disclosure under the FTC Endorsement Guides.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES

The Service is provided “as is” and “as available.” We make no warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy of forecasts, uninterrupted availability, or that the Service will be free of bugs or errors. Use at your own risk.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent permitted by law, in no event shall Aurora Outpost or Scott Lefevre be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Service. Our total liability for any claim relating to the Service shall not exceed the amount you have paid us (which, for free users, is zero).

INDEMNIFICATION

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold us harmless from any claim or demand made by a third party arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these terms, or your violation of any rights of another person.

TERMINATION

You can stop using the Service or delete your account at any time. We can suspend or terminate accounts that violate these terms or that we reasonably believe pose a risk to other users or the Service. We’ll try to give notice when reasonable but reserve the right to act immediately for serious violations.

GOVERNING LAW

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, USA, without regard to its conflict-of-law principles. Any dispute shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in New York. You waive any objection to that jurisdiction or venue.

CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

We may update these terms occasionally. Material changes will be notified via in-app banner or email. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page reflects the most recent change. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect means you accept the updated terms.

CONTACT

Questions about these terms? Email scott@auroraoutpost.com.