Terms of Service

Last Updated: November 17, 2024

Welcome to Saturn Rings Observatory. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website, services, and resources. By accessing or using our website, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use our services.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing saturnringsobservatory.org and using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. These Terms apply to all visitors, users, researchers, and others who access or use our services.

2. Description of Services

Saturn Rings Observatory provides:

• Scientific articles and research publications about Saturn's rings
• Educational resources and materials for students and educators
• Access to curated datasets from the Cassini–Huygens mission
• Computational tools and visualization software for ring analysis
• Collaboration opportunities for researchers and institutions
• News and updates about planetary ring science

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of our services at any time without prior notice.

3. User Accounts and Registration

Certain features of our website may require registration or creation of an account. When creating an account, you agree to:

• Provide accurate, current, and complete information
• Maintain and update your information to keep it accurate
• Maintain the security of your password and account
• Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account
• Accept responsibility for all activities that occur under your account

We reserve the right to refuse service, terminate accounts, or remove content at our sole discretion.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

4.1 Our Content

Unless otherwise stated, all content on our website—including text, graphics, logos, images, software, data visualizations, and research materials—is the property of Saturn Rings Observatory or our content providers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

4.2 Open Access License

We make our research articles and educational materials available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This means you are free to:

• Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
• Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially

Under the following terms:

• Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made
• No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits

4.3 Third-Party Content

Some content, including Cassini mission data, is provided by NASA and other space agencies and is subject to their respective terms of use. References to third-party research are properly cited and subject to original authors' copyrights.

5. User Conduct

When using our services, you agree not to:

• Violate any applicable laws or regulations
• Infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others
• Transmit any harmful code, viruses, or malicious software
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our systems or networks
• Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of our services
• Use automated systems to access our services without permission
• Misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Use our services for any unlawful or fraudulent purpose
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users

6. Data and Research Collaboration

6.1 Data Access

Access to certain datasets and computational tools may require registration and agreement to specific data use terms. Users must:

• Use data only for scientific, educational, or research purposes
• Properly cite data sources in publications and presentations
• Comply with NASA Planetary Data System policies for Cassini data
• Not redistribute datasets without proper authorization

6.2 Research Contributions

If you submit research, data, or other content to Saturn Rings Observatory for publication or inclusion in our databases, you grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and distribute your contribution in connection with our services.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

OUR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
• Warranties that our services will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content

We do not warrant that our website or services will meet your requirements or that any errors will be corrected.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SATURN RINGS OBSERVATORY SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Loss of profits, data, or use
• Loss of business opportunities
• Personal injury or property damage
• Any damages arising from your use or inability to use our services

Our total liability for any claims arising from your use of our services shall not exceed $100 USD or the amount you paid us in the past 12 months, whichever is greater.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Saturn Rings Observatory, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use of our services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another party
• Your content or submissions

10. External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including research databases, institutional websites, and social media platforms. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party websites.

11. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of our services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Los Angeles County, California.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by posting the updated Terms on our website with a new "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

13. Termination

We may terminate or suspend your access to our services immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including breach of these Terms. Upon termination, your right to use our services will cease immediately. Provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including intellectual property provisions, disclaimers, indemnification, and limitations of liability.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Saturn Rings Observatory regarding use of our services and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

16. Contact Information

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:

Saturn Rings Observatory
254 Observatory Lane
Pasadena, CA 91101, USA
Email: legal@saturnringsobservatory.org
Phone: +1 (626) 487-3940