1. Introduction
These Terms and Conditions govern access to and use of cruxkaroo.com, related Crux Karoo Observatory web pages, public planning tools, Science Desk pages, forms, downloadable material, previews, and any other content made available through the website.
The website is operated for and on behalf of Crux Pty Ltd, a registered South African private company, registration number 2026/474141/0, together with its project, design, development, or operations representatives where applicable. In these Terms, “Crux”, “we”, “us”, and “our” refer to Crux Pty Ltd and the Crux Karoo Observatory project.
By using the website, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the website.
2. Project Development Status
Crux Karoo Observatory is an active development project. The website may describe planned facilities, future datasets, future guest programmes, prototype tools, design concepts, technical studies, field artefacts, Atlas systems, Science Desk workflows, and observatory infrastructure that may not yet be complete, available, operational, approved, priced, or open to the public.
Unless expressly stated in a signed written agreement with Crux Pty Ltd, nothing on the website constitutes a final offer, confirmed booking, confirmed product specification, investment invitation, public prospectus, operational guarantee, or binding commitment to provide any facility, instrument, dataset, accommodation, event, course, service, or product.
As at the last updated date, paid datasets, paid bookings, paid courses, guest services, and public guest programmes have not yet launched.
3. Permitted Use of the Site
You may use the website for lawful personal, educational, research, media, or enquiry purposes. You agree not to:
- interfere with or attempt to compromise the website, forms, tools, server, APIs, or related systems;
- submit false, unlawful, misleading, abusive, infringing, or malicious content;
- copy, scrape, republish, or commercially exploit the website content without permission;
- use the website in a way that infringes the rights of Crux or any third party;
- use automated tools to overload the website or extract data at unreasonable scale.
4. Observatory Planning Tools
The Crux Observatory Tools are prototype planning aids. They may include field-of-view calculators, mosaic planners, target season guides, observatory planning briefs, dataset estimators, dataset tier guides, rig choosers, and capture package builders.
These tools are advisory only. Outputs may be affected by user inputs, assumptions, incomplete datasets, browser behaviour, third-party sky survey services, weather, astronomy calculations, object metadata, instrument changes, and future Crux instrument standards. Tool outputs do not guarantee capture availability, target suitability, dataset quality, telescope time, pricing, scheduling, delivery, scientific accuracy, or operational feasibility.
Users remain responsible for independently verifying any astronomical, technical, educational, financial, travel, safety, or operational decision made using the tools.
5. Science Desk and Editorial Content
Science Desk material is provided for general information, inspiration, education, and project communication. It may include Atlas-assisted summaries or editorial workflows, but public content is intended to remain human-reviewed before publication.
Science Desk content is not professional scientific, legal, financial, investment, travel, medical, safety, or technical engineering advice. Always consult appropriate sources or professionals before relying on information for important decisions.
6. Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, all website content, including text, layouts, visual systems, images, design language, names, marks, logos, tool concepts, interface designs, planning structures, and brand assets are owned by or licensed to Crux Pty Ltd or its relevant rights holders.
You may view the website for ordinary use. You may not copy, reproduce, modify, distribute, publish, sell, train commercial AI systems on, or create derivative works from the content without prior written permission, except where permitted by law.
Crux Karoo Observatory, Crux, Crux Design, Atlas, Menhir, Daymark, and related project names, marks, or visual systems may be protected as trade marks, brand identifiers, copyright works, or confidential design assets, whether or not formally registered at the time of access.
7. Forms, Enquiries, and Communications
When you submit a form or send an email, you confirm that the information is accurate and that you have authority to submit it. Submission of a form does not create a client relationship, supplier relationship, partnership, booking, dataset order, employment relationship, or contract unless confirmed in a separate written agreement by Crux Pty Ltd.
We may respond, decline to respond, request more information, or keep a record of the enquiry in line with our Privacy Policy.
8. Third-Party Services and Links
The website may reference or embed third-party services, astronomy data, sky survey imagery, fonts, scripts, hosting services, maps, videos, links, or external resources. We do not control third-party websites or services and are not responsible for their availability, accuracy, security, policies, or content.
9. Availability and Changes
The website may be updated, suspended, limited, corrected, redesigned, or withdrawn at any time. We may change tools, pages, wording, datasets, images, forms, technical assumptions, or project descriptions without notice.
10. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, the website and all content are provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranties of completeness, accuracy, uninterrupted availability, fitness for purpose, non-infringement, or suitability for any particular use.
Crux Pty Ltd, its directors, employees, contractors, consultants, designers, developers, agents, and affiliates will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, economic, data, business, travel, reputational, or opportunity loss arising from use of or reliance on the website, tools, project descriptions, content, forms, links, or communications, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude liability where South African law does not permit exclusion, including liability arising from intentional misconduct, gross negligence where applicable, or non-excludable consumer rights under applicable law.
11. User Indemnity
You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Crux Pty Ltd and its representatives from claims, damages, losses, costs, and expenses arising from your unlawful use of the website, breach of these Terms, infringement of third-party rights, submission of unlawful content, or reliance on prototype tools contrary to the disclaimers provided.
11. Capture Requests, Dataset Enquiries, and Planning Calendar
The Capture Package Builder is the intended final website endpoint for public capture and dataset enquiries. Specialist tools may pass planning context into the builder, but a submitted capture package remains an enquiry only. It is not a quote, order, booking, observing allocation, or guarantee of dataset delivery.
Any future Planning Calendar, availability layer, target window, rig availability indicator, hold, queue status, or seasonal recommendation will be provided for planning context only unless Crux Pty Ltd confirms a specific arrangement in writing.
Crux may decline, revise, rescope, postpone, or recommend alternatives to any capture request after manual review.
12. Copyright and CRUX Link
The site-wide “” footer mark links to www.cruxdesign.co.za. This link identifies the broader Crux design entity and brand context and does not change the responsible website entity stated in these legal pages.
12. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute relating to the website or these Terms will be subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate South African courts, unless another dispute process is agreed in writing.
13. Contact
For website, legal, privacy, or project enquiries, contact: studio@cruxdesign.co.za.