proving space
observations
are real, is our job

proving space
observations
are real,
is our job

Redefining How We Watch the Sky

SkyMapper’s decentralized network delivers a new standard for observing and protecting the universe, combining privacy, transparency, and blockchain-verified trust with real-time insights and collision-risk alerts.

Privacy & Traceability
SkyMapper's decentralized network uses an immutable, distributed ledger to make all data transactions publicly verifiable, auditable, and trustworthy. Privacy is simultaneously maintained using cryptographic keys and pseudonymity, separating the user's real identity from the data record.
Searchable Database
Users can efficiently query data using structured indexes, ensuring the integrity of the retrieved searchable metadata via cryptographic verification on an immutable blockchain.
Assess Risk of Collisions
SkyMapper's decentralized network provides continuous, global data collection from distributed nodes, ensuring uninterrupted tracking of objects in orbit. Blockchain storage ensures data integrity, creating a single, trusted source of truth to rapidly and accurately calculate the Probability of Collision.
Immutable Blockchain Data
Decentralization eliminates any single point of control by distributing data across numerous nodes. SkyMapper enforces cryptographic security where each block, making it computationally impossible for a single actor to tamper with a record without invalidating the entire chain across the network.
Real-time Incident Alerts
SkyMapper’s decentralized network reduces latency through edge processing and P2P communication, bypassing data bottlenecks. Critical data that triggers an alert can be instantly verified and written to the immutable blockchain, activating automatic dissemination to trusted alert operators, as soon as a risk threshold is met.

at its core, we love astronomy, and we are tech innovators

Passionate about Astronomy

Astronomy means many different things, especially for our teams at SkyMapper. For some, the love for astronomy stems from a profound scientific and research background.

While others find their inspiration in stories, films, or simply evenings spent stargazing with a backyard telescope. And some are drawn to astronomy by a fascination with space exploration and cutting-edge technologies. These varied viewpoints collectively power SkyMapper’s mission: to make the universe more accessible, more collaborative, and more exciting for everyone.
“Astronomy is a unifying force, enriching lives and inspiring new generations. Universal access to telescope observations, transcends boundaries and opens the universe to diverse audiences, from students to citizen scientists. Our vision focuses on concrete ways to foster global collaboration, empower exploration of fundamental questions, and ignite discovery beyond astronomy's abstract perception.”
Franck Marchis
Ph.D. – Co-Founder & CEO
“Our partnership with Akave demonstrates astronomy's transformative power through innovative data storage. Astronomy is commercially viable, and understanding space is vital for humanity's expansive curiosity. Blockchain and web3 provide secure, decentralized platforms essential for managing vast astronomical data. This ensures long-term accessibility, data integrity, and accelerates discoveries enabling humanity's journey beyond Earth.”
Stefaan Vervaet
Co-Founder

Passionate about Innovation

Skymapper is at the forefront of applying blockchain technology to astronomy within the Web3 domain. It demonstrates the value of decentralized, immutable data storage, ensuring all collected astronomical data is a verifiable, permanent, and unalterable on-chain record.

Distinguishing itself from traditional, centralized networks, SkyMapper leverages a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), which relies on a global community of observers who are rewarded for their contributions. This approach fosters trust and provides transparent, tamper-proof data accessible to all, thereby eliminating issues of scientific research provenance.
“Blockchain and web3 technologies are foundational to SkyMapper's mission of democratizing astronomy and ensuring scientific data integrity through immutable, tamper-proof storage and universal accessibility. Like the early internet, web3 combines innovation with speculation, but represents a fundamental shift toward open, verifiable, collaborative scientific infrastructure. We’re proud that SkyMapper is leading the movement to transform astronomical research.”
Franck Marchis
Ph.D. – Co-Founder & CEO
“For us, blockchain provides immutable, verifiable astronomical data storage. SkyMapper's partnership with Akave Cloud ensures data authenticity with tokenomics which transparently rewards contributors through on-chain verification. This decentralized, community-powered approach enables rapid scaling and transforms astronomical data collection into a truly collaborative, rewarding, scientific endeavor.”
Stefaan Vervaet
Co-Founder

news & press

Discover the latest news, press releases, and media coverage from SkyMapper.io, where cutting-edge telescope technology meets Web3 innovation. Stay informed about our mission to democratize space exploration and empower a global community to collaborate on astronomical discoveries.

Leadership Team

Our Cosmic Commanders
Franck Marchis
Ph.D. – Co-Founder & CEO
A distinguished astronomer and entrepreneur with over two decades of pioneering contributions to space exploration. He co-founded Unistellar, which has become the largest network of digital telescopes (more than 10,000 telescopes). SETI Institute since 2010. California Academy of Sciences Fellow.
Stefaan Vervaet
Co-Founder
Stefaan has 20 years of experience in the software space, where he helped build out successful startups in the enterprise data and storage management market. Head of Growth at Protocol Labs—responsible for growing the Filecoin network, one of the largest DePIN ZK networks in the world. Co-founder and CEO of Akave.ai
Guillermo Cid
CTO
Guillermo (BSc, MSc, PhD, BTech) is a former member of the Spatial Data Committee in the Chilean Government, with over 20 years of experience in earth and spatial data, and 10 years of experience in blockchain technologies applied to sciences and climate change adaptation. Board member, Fintech and Blockchain Association.
Tom Esposito
Ph.D. – CSO
Tom has over 15 years of experience in astronomical research, operating and analyzing data from world-class instruments. At Unistellar, he manages far-reaching science programs for the citizen astronomy network he helped build from the ground up. SETI Institute since 2020. Unistellar Space Science Principal.

Benefits of SkyMapper

Searchable database

Real-Time Access to the Cosmos
Explore a live, searchable archive of astronomical and satellite data. Every observation is indexed, verifiable, and instantly available for research, industry, and discovery.

Continuous Monitoring

A Global Network That Never Sleeps
Powered by thousands of professional and citizen-operated telescopes, our decentralized network delivers 24/7 coverage of the night sky, ensuring no event goes unseen.

Global
Community

Thousands of Eyes on the Sky
From rural backyards to world-class observatories, our community of astronomers powers the SkyMapper network by expanding coverage, enriching data quality, and democratizing access to the universe.

Data
Integrity

Data You Can Trust, Forever
Each observation is cryptographically verified and recorded on the blockchain, providing immutable provenance and transparency for science, space safety, and exploration.

Our Partners

Akave supports SkyMapper's mission by providing a decentralized data layer and storage solution built on a dedicated Avalanche L1 blockchain. This infrastructure enables the collection of tamper-proof astronomical data from SkyMapper's telescope network. The Avalanche blockchain ensures that all data interactions, from uploads to reads, are recorded on-chain, creating a transparent and verifiable record of every observation. Akave's system guarantees data sovereignty and immutability, allowing scientists to trust the provenance and integrity of the astronomical data, which is crucial for scientific analysis and discovery.
The Centre d'Astronomie is a public educational facility located adjacent to the Observatoire de Haute-Provence. It is dedicated to sharing scientific knowledge and providing opportunities for people of all ages to engage with astronomy.
CoopHive offers a decentralized marketplace for computing resources, enabling the buying and selling of compute power for tasks such as AI inference and data processing. Clients, like SkyMapper, can execute tasks across a distributed network of nodes, leveraging the Bacalhau platform to eliminate the need for centralized data storage. This partnership outsources intricate image processing and AI inference tasks to a distributed network, on-chain, guaranteeing the integrity and provenance of SkyMapper's scientific imaging data.
ConstelAR Space is an interdisciplinary network dedicated to strengthening the Argentine space ecosystem by connecting professionals, researchers, and companies.
Decen Space makes it easier for satellite operators to communicate with their spacecraft by connecting them to a global network of ground stations and orchestrating across a heterogeneous network to increase throughput from space to ground. Through SkyMapper's decentralized telescope network, we're working to expand infrastructure access for satellite operators, including the potential for visual tracking of satellites in orbit.
Eagle Point Funding is a consulting firm that helps companies, academic institutions, and non-profit research entities secure non-dilutive R&D grants and contracts from U.S. federal agencies. They specialize in fields like energy, defense, cybersecurity, AI, robotics, and advanced materials.
Recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Education, the Fédération des astronomes amateurs du Québec (FAAQ) is the province's premier non-profit organization dedicated to amateur astronomy. Representing a vast network of 2,000 members and 27 clubs across 15 administrative regions, the FAAQ is committed to promoting astronomy as a scientific leisure activity while ensuring its members practice with safety and rigor.
Infinite Orbits is a French "NewSpace" company that specializes in geostationary orbit (GEO) satellite servicing, focusing on life extension and situational awareness.
Light Bridges is a private research company based in the Canary Islands that focuses on observational astronomy and data management.
Opening access to the stars for all, by building observatories and sharing astronomy through education and outreach in remote communities — including on-foot journeys with a telescope in a backpack to meet people where they live.
NexDome Observatories is a Canada-based company that designs and supplies practical, automation-ready observatory solutions for amateur astronomers, research users, and serious backyard observatory builders. The company focuses on durable, weather-resilient enclosures and integration-friendly hardware that supports remote operation—helping customers protect valuable telescope equipment while enabling reliable, repeatable observing sessions. With an emphasis on straightforward installation, mechanical robustness, and compatibility with common astronomy control workflows, NexDome aims to make professional-grade observatory capability accessible for permanent and semi-permanent setups.
Founded in 2023, the Puerto Rico Space Foundation (PRSF) is committed to advancing space education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development in Puerto Rico. Through initiatives in education, research, and partnerships, PRSF connects the Puerto Rican community to the global space economy while fostering innovation and resilience. For more information visit rspacefoundation.org
Reality Network is a decentralized computer and consensus protocol that transforms everyday devices into a real-time, verifiable mesh of global compute. Skymapper leverages RealityNet to validate orbital data at the edge, using laptops, phones, and IoT devices as trusted telemetry nodes. With built-in provenance for both compute and data, Reality ensures that every peer-reported satellite position or sensor reading can be independently verified and traced. Reality's DAG-based architecture and 2MEME reputation system enable low-latency consensus on high-frequency space data, powering Skymapper’s mission to democratize satellite tracking with defense-grade trust and citizen-scale reach.
Serenum Space is a specialized aerospace company based in the Czech Republic that designs and manufactures components for small satellites, specifically CubeSats. It operates as a commercial subsidiary of the Czech Aerospace Research Centre (VZLU), leveraging decades of institutional research to provide flight-proven technology for academic, government, and commercial missions.
The SETI Institute explores the origins of life, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the mysteries of the cosmos. Through cutting-edge research, education programs, and public outreach, they strive to expand humanity's understanding of the universe. The SETI Institute’s expertise in instrumentation, research and data analysis, and research helps process the vast amounts of astronomical data collected by SkyMapper's decentralized telescope network.
The Space Business Catalyst is an initiative led by Thales Alenia Space’s Innovation Cluster to support the emergence of new markets and players in the space sector. This industry accelerator aims to shape and develop the space ecosystem of the future in collaboration with the best startups. Through collaborations with partner startups and in-house projects, the Space Business Catalyst aims to shape the space disruptions of tomorrow. Its holistic approach makes our company a true spearhead of NewSpace at the intersection where the worlds of major companies and startups meet.
The Space Business Catalyst is an initiative led by Thales Alenia Space’s Innovation Cluster to support the emergence of new markets and players in the space sector. This industry accelerator aims to shape and develop the space ecosystem of the future in collaboration with the best startups. Through collaborations with partner startups and in-house projects, the Space Business Catalyst aims to shape the space disruptions of tomorrow. Its holistic approach makes our company a true spearhead of NewSpace at the intersection where the worlds of major companies and startups meet.
Unistellar, a French manufacturer of computer-connected telescopes, is SkyMapper's foundational telescope partner. This collaboration provides SkyMapper with immediate access to Unistellar's global network of thousands of smart telescopes, operated by citizen scientists. This partnership furnishes SkyMapper with a distributed physical infrastructure for astronomical data collection, thereby enabling rapid scaling without the necessity of constructing a network de novo. By leveraging Unistellar's community, this collaboration facilitates real-time observation and data collection for phenomena such as asteroid occultations, comet activity, and exoplanet transits, substantially enhancing the scope and efficiency of astronomical research.
The Richard Lounsbery Foundation was established in 1959 to support science and technology, with a focus on strengthening national capabilities and fostering international collaboration, particularly between the United States and France. The foundation funds joint research initiatives, programs that address the science and technology aspects of US policy, and new research projects.

It also supports elementary and secondary science and math education in New York City and Washington D.C., and recognizes distinguished investigators through awards like the Richard Lounsbery Award.
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation aims to tackle large, important issues at a scale where it can achieve significant and measurable impacts.

The foundation focuses on four main areas: environmental conservation, scientific discovery, patient care, and the preservation of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Gordon and Betty Moore established the foundation with the intent to create lasting, positive change for future generations.

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