# Who owns the moon ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076 "2012-02-26T20:01:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/1 "2012-02-26T20:01:49Z")
The Americans where the first to put a man on it, but I believe the Russians had an emblem on the moon before the Americans. What if another country spent billions on a space program and colonized the moon , would they own it ? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/2 "2012-02-26T20:15:14Z")
The [Outer Space Treaty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty) says that everyone who’s a signatory agrees to respect celestial bodies as the common heritage of mankind. ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/3 "2012-02-26T20:16:46Z")
The question has been hotly debated for many years. A search on Google returns these hits: [http://www.google.com/search?q=who+owns+the+moon&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari](http://www.google.com/search?q=who+owns+the+moon&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari) Happy reading! ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/4 "2012-02-26T20:30:36Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The [Outer Space Treaty](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outer_Space_Treaty) says that everyone who’s a signatory agrees to respect celestial bodies as the common heritage of mankind. Right. Treaties seem to be little more than suggestions. We honored the Sioux Treaty of 1868 for six whole years, right up until gold was discovered in them there hills. My guess is the Outer Space Treaty will be honored right up until it makes sense to no longer do so. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/5 "2012-02-26T20:40:20Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Right. Treaties seem to be little more than suggestions. We honored the Sioux Treaty of 1868 for six whole years, right up until gold was discovered in them there hills. My guess is the Outer Space Treaty will be honored right up until it makes sense to no longer do so. This. The moon will be owned by whichever entity has the will and force to enforce that ownership. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/6 "2012-02-26T21:09:43Z")
I own the moon. I’ve successfully kept trespassers out for over 40 years now. And that stuff you left there, it’s mine now. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/7 "2012-02-26T21:12:53Z")
The Selenites. Or, possibly, the Lunatics. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/8 "2012-02-26T21:17:26Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > The Selenites. > > Or, possibly, the Lunatics. More likely, the Moonies. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/9 "2012-02-26T21:18:41Z")
I recall reading that NASA wants the Apollo lunar sites historically protected. If China or Russia ever make it to the moon they need to land elsewhere. Mythbusters moon special revealed that there’s two reflector dishes that Apollo missions left on the moon. They visited a Observatory where the scientist used lasers to send a beam up there and measure how long it takes to return. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/10 "2012-02-26T21:49:06Z")
**TriPolar does** , ever since I sold him the Moon for $3.75 back in January 1972. I used it to buy a pair of X-ray specs from the back of a comic book. Worst deal ever. In truth, it will be interesting to see how it is handled if we reach a point where some nation attempts to land a lunar colony. I’d bet the UN General Assembly will probably try to impose some kind of high taxation lease on the operation, which will probably be completely ignored. This will be followed by a series of strongly worded letters. ---
**Author:** ![Craz3d117](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c4cdca/32.png) [@Craz3d117](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craz3d117)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/11 "2012-02-26T21:57:25Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I recall reading that NASA wants the Apollo lunar sites historically protected. If China or Russia ever make it to the moon they need to land elsewhere. > > Mythbusters moon special revealed that there’s two reflector dishes that Apollo missions left on the moon. They visited a Observatory where the scientist used lasers to send a beam up there and measure how long it takes to return. Russia has actually already made it to the moon, however it was not manned, but they did send a lunar rover. Where it landed I am not sure though. As for ownership, whoever has the will and resources to establish a colony and enforce anyone else from doing so would essentially own the moon. I believe China wants to put a man on the moon by 2020. I’ve also heard America wants to put a man back up by 2018. However, I don’t think the latter will actually happen due to a myriad of reasons. What China plans to do with it if they succeed is anyone’s guess, although I would think not much. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/12 "2012-02-26T22:01:26Z")
Looking at Antartica’s usage may be a good indication. Right now it’s not really wide scale inhabitable and everyone is friendly about using it, but the right conditions, either economic/resource or climate could change that. As demand for real estate goes up things could get a bit nasty. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/13 "2012-02-26T22:19:23Z")
“Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.” -Ancient Native American proverb. The Moon is probably also out on loan. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/14 "2012-02-26T22:43:19Z")
I don’t see how President Gingrich will be able to found a state on the moon without at least a part of it belonging to the US. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/15 "2012-02-26T22:45:25Z")
I’m not supposed to say … I do. Please don’t tell anyone. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/16 "2012-02-26T23:21:58Z")
The surface or the habitable cavern system? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/17 "2012-02-26T23:26:52Z")
D.D. Harriman ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/18 "2012-02-26T23:53:06Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > **TriPolar does** , ever since I sold him the Moon for $3.75 back in January 1972. I used it to buy a pair of X-ray specs from the back of a comic book. Worst deal ever. > > In truth, it will be interesting to see how it is handled if we reach a point where some nation attempts to land a lunar colony. I’d bet the UN General Assembly will probably try to impose some kind of high taxation lease on the operation, which will probably be completely ignored. This will be followed by a series of strongly worded letters. I told you the joy buzzer was a better deal. You could have got that and a throw-your-voice thing for the same price. But the moon, what a deal! Best $3.75 I ever spent. Wait til the Chinese get there and find out they have to pay rent! ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/19 "2012-02-26T23:56:39Z")
The man in the moon owns it. Duh. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076/20 "2012-02-27T01:36:18Z")
Sheesh, 17 posts before someone got the right answer. Don’t any of you non- **Baker** folks study the classics any more? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-owns-the-moon/614076.md?page=2)