Ownership of the Moon

[kicker3]

What's the deal with this guy who supposedly owns the moon? Is this for real?

[Bryan Ekers]

Well, unless he has permanent residence, I'd take it with a grain of salt.

[aaslatten]

Acquisition in outer space is prohibited under the United Nations Treaty on Outer Space signed in 1967.

Here's a link to some other FAQs about the
moon.

http://geophysics.ou.edu/solid_earth/notes/solar_system/moon_facts.htm

Oddly, I compiled this list a few years ago. I didn't know it had been republished on this site.

[Meeko]

I saw this guy many times, Unscrewed and Last Call among them.

I think Carson so wanted to call the guy a Lunatic....

I think he's bonkers as well. But, if its 10 bucks and change per acre, Id be willing to pay that to shut him up if I wish to own land there. However, by the time we get there it might be too late.

But, I also take it with a grain of salt... I mean from a remote distance I can't see how land ownership can be enforced. You have your papers, meanwhile I have your land. Then again, I would bet on the moon melee weapons wouldn't work as well to enforce the land physically.

Still messing up the situation, If I could somehow guest with him on a show, he would give me an acre, and we wouldn't have this debate.

I don't want to debate when the world will end, but realisticaly, I think even a 21 year old like myself will remain on terra firma until death.

[Meeko]

Oh, lets not forget this guy also owns the other 8 celestial bodies.

Ok you can Have Jupiter... good luck "landing" there. :smack: I'm sure when you do, it will be a real GAS!

[Futile Gesture]

The guy is a loon.

Basically he's claiming that international law doesn't apply in space. So no nation can own anything as a legal entity in space. So he then uses US law (you know, a legal entity that has no jurisdiction in space) to claim the moon. :smack:

[Mathochist]

What's the deal with this guy who supposedly owns the moon? Is this for real?

Everyone else is right that he's a lunatic (HA!), but for those of us unfamiliar with this story you could provide a link, maybe?

[CurtC]

I think it's pretty meaningless, unless he can physically go there and defend his territory against all comers.

[Neurotik]

He's completely nuts. The moon actually belongs to me. That's why there haven't been any more moon landings. I got sick of those astronauts littering all over my property, so when NASA asked me if they could come visit again, I politely told them they couldn't, since they had been so rude the last several times.

[FatBaldGuy]

I've never heard of this guy. Does anyone have a link about the story.

I'm assuming he has just as much right to sell land on the moon as the International Star Registry has to sell names of stars. ;)

[Balthisar]

Is he really a lunatic, or just a really good confidence man?

[Lord Ashtar]

Ok you can Have Jupiter... good luck "landing" there. :smack: I'm sure when you do, it will be a real GAS!
*groan*

[ElvisL1ves]

Ok you can Have Jupiter... good luck "landing" there. :smack: I'm sure when you do, it will be a real GAS!

All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landing there.

[Futile Gesture]

I've never heard of this guy. Does anyone have a link about the storyTake Your Pick (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22Dennis+Hope%22+Moon)

[Sunspace]

See, I let Neurotik think he owns the moon. It makes him and the others so much more... tractable... as they keep the place tidy for our lunar insectoid masters.

<bzzz>

[The Great Sun Jester]

OK. I'll do it. (http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song/)

[KP]

Let me clarify a point that I think many have been trying to make.

Even if his claim were legal under US law (as he claims) it's worthless. Anyone who actually goes there can claim the land, and actually claim ownership under US law *because* of his "legitimate" claim. It's called "tenancy by adversity" (aka "squatting") If I set up camp on your property, and you know about it but don't physically evict me (*trying* to kick me off, or even writing a letter telling me to leave only strengthens my claim of "adversity") then after a certain number of years I become the rightful owner. The Moon Man has, I would guess, exactly zero chance of kicking any squatters off the moon -- especially squatters who have the means to go and set up shop there in the first place.

In short, his claim (and the claims of any "buyers") would fall in a matter of years to anyone who actually took and maintained possession.

Of course, AFAIK, this is usually covered by state rather than Federal law, but it's in the common law, so given the absence of state jurisdiction, it should be arguable in a Federal Court (I am, of course, not a lawyer).

Of course, his uncontested letters of claim to the US/UN (his primary justification) mean nothing. Neither UN and the US have any authority to assign/recognize private ownership claims to the moon, and have in fact explicitly disavowed that right by treaty. He might as well have written to his fifth grade science teacher.

[SnakeSpirit]

When the first astronauts planted an American flag on the moon's surface, wasn't there some kind of comment about claiming the moon for all mankind? I tried the official NASA site, and didn't find anything, but I recall thinking to myself at the time that it was a neat thing for them to do.

[ElvisL1ves]

The flag is the US one, although the original plan was to plant the UN flag. The plaque reads "We came in peace for all mankind", not "We claim this land in the name of Earth".

[Cervaise]

Even if his claim were legal under US law (as he claims) it's worthless. Anyone who actually goes there can claim the land, and actually claim ownership under US law *because* of his "legitimate" claim. It's called "tenancy by adversity" (aka "squatting") If I set up camp on your property, and you know about it but don't physically evict me (*trying* to kick me off, or even writing a letter telling me to leave only strengthens my claim of "adversity") then after a certain number of years I become the rightful owner.For an interesting (fictional) scenario exploring the legalities of owning parts of the Moon, see Ben Bova's novel Moonrise.

[SnakeSpirit]

Dennis Hope has unjustly claimed ownership of the Moon.

Any logically oriented person, with a firm grip on reality, can easily determine the the Ownership of the Moon (Luna) is already firm in the hands of we Lunatics!

(This includes MOST members of the SDMB {but not YOU} and many of those with Charter Member under their screen name).

Hereby, all are ordered to take their 1920's style Death Rays in hand, and when the abhorred Dennis Hope attempts to take possession of our cherished lands, we are to SMITE him in the Name of The Invisible Pink Unicorn (blessed be the Name) and to recover the barren lands for the greater good of Cecil of the Adams, and for the continuing battle on ignorance, begun in 1973, and ever continuing (because we need more time).

Hey, it's a rough job, but somebody has to do it!

[Loopydude]

All your Moon are belong to ME.

[dogbutler]

Dennis, meet Greg (http://www.straightdope.com/columns/001027.html)


:dubious: