Terms of Service for the Tilepy API

Effective Date: 2026-05-18

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the Tilepy API ("Service") operated by the Astro-COLIBRI team ("we," "us," or "our"). The Service exposes a thin web layer around the open-source Tilepy tile-scheduling code and is offered to the astronomy community for non-commercial follow-up planning. By using the Service you agree to these Terms.

The Service is offered as part of the broader Astro-COLIBRI platform. The platform-wide Astro-COLIBRI Terms of Service apply in addition to these Terms; in case of conflict on points specific to the Tilepy scheduling service, the present Terms prevail.

1. Scope of the Service

The Service accepts an observation request — principally a public sky-localisation map URL plus observatory and observation parameters (site coordinates, start time, field of view, zenith / moon / sun constraints, probability thresholds, etc.) — and returns a tile-pointing schedule that maximises probability coverage. The Service does not perform alert distribution, account management, or any of the other functions of the main Astro-COLIBRI platform.

Sky-localisation URLs are only accepted from a small whitelist of trusted sources (LIGO/Virgo GraceDB, NASA HEASARC Fermi, NASA GCN, IceCube ROC); requests pointing elsewhere are rejected.

2. Acceptable Use

2.1. Permitted Use

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable right to call the Service for non-commercial scientific research, education, and personal study.

2.2. Prohibited Use

You may not:

  • resell or repackage the Service or its outputs as a commercial offering without prior written permission;
  • submit requests at a volume or rate that could disrupt the Service for other users (the Service is unauthenticated, so please be considerate);
  • attempt to bypass the sky-map source whitelist or otherwise abuse the input validation;
  • use the Service for any unlawful, harmful, or fraudulent activity.

We monitor aggregate Service load and reserve the right to introduce per-IP or per-origin throttling, or to block abusive clients, without notice.

3. Outputs and Attribution

Tile schedules are produced by the open-source Tilepy code from the parameters you supply. When using a Tilepy schedule in a publication or presentation we ask, as a matter of scientific courtesy, that you cite Tilepy (see the API documentation for the canonical reference) and acknowledge the Astro-COLIBRI Tilepy Service. The Service makes no claim of authorship over your scientific results.

4. Availability and Disclaimer

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available". Schedule computations can fail, time out, or return non-optimal solutions — especially for unusually large maps or extreme observatory configurations. We make no warranty as to availability, scientific correctness, or fitness for any particular purpose. Operational decisions (whether to slew a telescope, when to integrate, etc.) remain the sole responsibility of the observer. To the fullest extent permitted by law we accept no liability for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Service.

5. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or restrict access to the Service for any user or any origin at any time, in particular in response to abuse, excessive load, or violation of these Terms.

6. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms; the current version is always the one published at this URL. Continued use of the Service after a change constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

7. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of France. Any dispute that cannot be resolved amicably shall be brought before the competent courts of Paris, France.

8. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at astro.tilepy@gmail.com.