Anna
Updated :
The files stored on your telescope can be uploaded to our servers directly through the UNISTELLAR app.
ℹ️ Important: Uploading data is only necessary if you are participating in one of our official Citizen Science missions. Regular observations should not be uploaded.
Why upload scientific data?
After you participate in a Citizen Science mission through one of our official campaigns (available on our Science website), the final step is to send your observation data to our scientific team. Uploading your recording allows astronomers to analyze your results and include them in ongoing research.
Video Tutorial
🎥 Watch the tutorial video here:
Step-by-Step Guide (Text Version)
1. Connect to your telescope
Connect your smartphone or tablet to your telescope’s Wi-Fi network.
2. Open the app and go to storage
In the UNISTELLAR app, go to:
Settings → My Telescope
3. Check data availability
If data is stored on your telescope, the Manage Storage button will be active.
If it is greyed out, no data is available for upload.
4. Select the files you want to upload
You will see a list of available observations. You can choose:
Upload All – send all recordings
Select – upload specific observations only
5. Enter your Wi-Fi information
Type in the:
SSID (network name) – case-sensitive
Password
You may use your home Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot.
6. Choose optional actions
Before confirming, you can enable:
Delete data after upload (recommended to free up space)
Turn off the telescope after upload
7. Start the upload
Tap Confirm.
Your smartphone will disconnect from the telescope while the upload is in progress.
The telescope’s LED shows the connection and transfer status.
LED Indicator Meaning
Upload Status
Bright Yellow blinking – Connecting to your network
-
Green blinking (1–5 times), then steady – Upload successful
5 blinks = 0–20%
4 blinks = 21–40%
3 blinks = 41–60%
2 blinks = 61–80%
1 blink = 81–100%
Orange steady – Upload failed (incorrect SSID/password is common)
If the upload is interrupted, it will automatically resume where it stopped.
How to Check if the Transfer Worked
Once the upload is complete:
Reconnect your smartphone to the telescope’s Wi-Fi
Return to Settings → Storage
-
After a few minutes, uploaded observations will either:
appear with a green checkmark, or
disappear from the list (if you chose auto-delete)
What Happens After Upload?
Once your data is sent:
Our scientific team will analyze it
You can track progress and access results in your Science Space on the UNISTELLAR website
Data Privacy
The data collected includes:
Your observations
Their geolocation
Timestamp metadata
All information is processed securely and anonymously by professional astronomers and partner institutions.
If a discovery is made using your data, you may choose to be credited.