Buy Land on the Moon: Lunar Realty Opens in Melbourne

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the sale of lunar land by a real estate agency in Melbourne, Australia, raising questions about the legality and ethics of selling extraterrestrial property. Participants explore the implications of such sales in the context of international law and personal ownership, as well as the motivations behind purchasing land on the moon.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the legality of selling lunar land, referencing the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty which prohibits nations from claiming celestial bodies.
  • Others mention a purported loophole in the treaty that allows individuals to claim ownership, as claimed by Dennis Hope, who has been selling lunar plots since 1980.
  • Concerns are raised about the ethics of selling land that cannot be physically accessed or inhabited, with some questioning the motivations behind such purchases.
  • Participants share anecdotes about similar schemes, such as selling star names, and express disbelief at the low prices for lunar land.
  • There are humorous remarks about the potential for future conflicts over extraterrestrial land and the absurdity of the situation.
  • Some participants express a desire to buy lunar land, while others question the practicality and value of such an investment.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the legality and ethics of selling lunar land, with multiple competing views on the implications of the Outer Space Treaty and the motivations for purchasing such land. The discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference various claims and anecdotes without reaching a consensus on the legality of lunar land sales or the validity of ownership claims. The discussion includes speculative elements regarding future human habitation of the moon and the potential for conflict over extraterrestrial property.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in space law, real estate, ethics of extraterrestrial ownership, or those curious about the commercialization of space may find this discussion relevant.

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http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/space/10/13/offbeat.moon.ap/index.html

A new real estate agency, Lunar Realty, based in the southern Australian city of Melbourne, opens its doors Tuesday selling one-acre blocks on the moon for 59 Australian dollars (US$40) and 10-acre "lifestyle" blocks for A$298 (US$202).

I got a bad feeling about this.
 
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I don't think they could do that. The moon is international land..like Antarctica or so I thought.
 
Maybe the laws against false advertising are weaker in Australia :wink:

Reminds me of the shameful, shameful scams run by people 'selling' star names to folk who've lost loved ones, complete with official-looking certificates.
 
Originally posted by Brad_Ad23
I don't think they could do that. The moon is international land..like Antarctica or so I thought.

From the article:

Hope has been cashing in since 1980 on what he said was an apparent loophole in the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty that barred nations from laying claim to the moon but said nothing about individuals.

Hope registered a claim for the moon and planets with the United States, the Soviet government and the United Nations and, operating as Lunar Embassy, has been selling plots of extraterrestrial real estate ever since.
 
This is outrageous! If this is actually true, why in God's name is extraterrestrial land being sold for so cheap? What nonsense!
 
Hope has been cashing in since 1980 on what he said was an apparent loophole in the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty that barred nations from laying claim to the moon but said nothing about individuals.
What the UN giveth, the UN (may) taketh away ... who knows, they may also decide to impose a 150% profits tax, and make it retroactive to 1980 (I'm sure the Australian government would sign up for that, if it could get part of the proceeds)! Perhaps then Hope will emigrate to the Moon.:wink:
 
Originally posted by Nereid
Perhaps then Hope will emigrate to the Moon.:wink:

He had better! (if possession is in fact 9/10ths of the law)
Otherwise, I don't see what claim he has on that land other than pieces of paper here on Earth. Not so easy to evict tenants that live a quarter million miles away and are only accessible through multi-million/billion dollar transportation projects.
 
Plots for sale

there's a high street retail chain in the UK that is offering acre plots of the moon for sale for £20 each (just over $30 US). No mention is made which company it is that they are dealing with in selling these plots:
http://www.gadgetshop.com/TGS/produ...=0&SESSID=&BRAND=1&S_TYPE=U&AV=F&QB=F&CAMID=0

And its not the only extraterrestrial body with plots 'up for sale' :
http://www.gadgetshop.com/TGS/produ...=0&SESSID=&BRAND=1&S_TYPE=U&AV=F&QB=F&CAMID=0 (Venus)
http://www.gadgetshop.com/TGS/produ...=0&SESSID=&BRAND=1&S_TYPE=U&AV=F&QB=F&CAMID=0 (Mars)

But are those buying these plots buying what they are assuming they are buying? [?]
 


Greetings !

Hmm... This is great ! I see prices are up !
I bought 140 acres about 2 years ago for about
120 US dollars. BTW, Dennis Hope, as far as I know,
is very much for real, I hope...
My great great grandchildren will be pretty rich...

Live long and prosper.
 
  • #10
its so unfair ..., say if some aliens from other planets come to Earth and sell our land to its citizen would we like it? furthermore, aren't our land big enough alr?
 
  • #11
This is outrageous! If this is actually true, why in God's name is extraterrestrial land being sold for so cheap? What nonsense!

QUIT COMPLAINING AND BUY BUY BUY! BEFORE ALL THE GOOD SPOTS ARE TAKEN! I'M GETTING ONE ON THE VISIBLE SIDE OF THE MOON! :wink:
 
  • #12
Just wondering...Where do u get to buy the moon?
 
  • #13


Originally posted by gunblaze
Just wondering...Where do u get to buy the moon?

According to the U.N., you don't. But the guy mentioned in the article I cited thinks he has found a loophole. Contact him (although I don't recommend it!)
 
  • #14
First comes extraterrestrial land sales. Then comes extraterrestrial land squabbles. Finally, we export war from Earth.

The US Department of Defense has been carving up space for quite some time now.
 
  • #15
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  • #16
Is there honestly any point in buying land somewhere you will never go? Unless there are some hopefuls out there who plan on living for a very long time, I doubht that anybody who reads this post will live long enough to see people have permanent residence on the moon. If I am wrong, however, I'm interested.
 
  • #17
People seek immortality; instead, they end up with dust.
 
  • #18

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