Can You Buy Land on the Moon? The Honest Truth
Somewhere right now, someone is paying $30 for an acre of moon land. They get a fancy certificate, a map with a plot marked on it, and the feeling that they own a piece of the lunar surface. But do they? The real answer involves Cold War treaties, a guy from Nevada who claims he owns the entire Moon, and a legal gray area that gets messier every year.
The Short Answer: Nobody Can Own the Moon
No person, company, or government on Earth can legally own any part of the Moon. This is established international law, not a matter of opinion. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty, ratified by 114 countries including every major spacefaring nation, states that celestial bodies are "not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means." The Moon belongs to all of humanity. Full stop. That said, thousands of people buy lunar land certificates every year, and the companies selling them have been in business for decades. So what exactly is going on?
The Outer Space Treaty: Why the Moon Belongs to Everyone
In 1967, during the height of the Space Race, the United States and Soviet Union both realized something uncomfortable. If one of them planted a flag on the Moon and claimed it, the other would have to respond. Potentially with nukes. So they did the smart thing and agreed that nobody gets to own space. The Outer Space Treaty was the result. It says space is free for exploration by all nations. No country can claim sovereignty over any celestial body. Space activities must benefit all countries. And you can't station weapons of mass destruction in orbit. Both the US and USSR signed immediately. Today, 114 nations have ratified it. It's one of the most successful international agreements ever written.
The Moon Treaty: The Rule Everyone Ignores
In 1979, the United Nations tried to close the loophole in the Outer Space Treaty. They created the Moon Agreement, which explicitly stated that neither governments nor private individuals could own lunar property. The Moon and its resources were declared the "common heritage of mankind." Sounds definitive, right? Here's the problem. Almost nobody signed it. The United States refused. Russia refused. China refused. Japan, India, and every country with a real space program said no thanks. Only 18 countries ratified it, and none of them have ever launched anything beyond the atmosphere. So the Moon Treaty exists, but it has all the enforcement power of a strongly worded letter.
Dennis Hope: The Man Who 'Owns' the Moon
In 1980, a man named Dennis Hope from Nevada had an idea. He noticed that the Outer Space Treaty says governments can't own the Moon. But it doesn't explicitly say individuals can't. So he went to the county recorder's office, filed a claim of ownership for the Moon, all eight planets, and their moons. Then he sent a letter to the United Nations informing them of his claim. The UN never responded. Hope took their silence as acceptance and started selling lunar real estate through his company, the Lunar Embassy. One acre for about $25. He claims to have sold over 600 million acres and made more than $12 million. Is his claim legal? Absolutely not. No court on Earth has ever upheld it. No government recognizes it. The Outer Space Treaty covers all celestial bodies no matter if the claimant is a government or individual. But the certificates keep selling because people enjoy the novelty of it.
How Much Does Moon Land Cost?
If you want to buy a symbolic acre of moon land, you have options. The Lunar Embassy sells plots for about $25 per acre. Other companies like the International Lunar Lands Registry charge $20 to $50 depending on the package. Premium packages with framed certificates can run up to $100. What do you actually get? Usually a certificate of ownership, a lunar map showing your plot's location, a property ID number, and sometimes a copy of the "lunar constitution" that Dennis Hope wrote. Some companies throw in a Moon fact sheet or gift bag. What you don't get is any legal right to the land. Zero. The certificates are novelties, conversation starters, or quirky gifts. They carry exactly as much legal weight as a certificate saying you own a cloud.
Is Buying Moon Land a Scam?
This depends on what you think you're buying. If someone sells you moon land claiming it's a real investment or that you'll have legal rights when humans colonize the Moon, that's dishonest at best. If they're upfront that it's symbolic and fun, that's different. The better companies are transparent about it. They say right on their websites that the certificates are novelty items. The problem is that some companies are vague on purpose, using language like "officially registered" or "legally filed" to imply legitimacy that doesn't exist. Bottom line: if you're buying it as a fun gift or a conversation piece and you understand it's symbolic, you're fine. If anyone tells you it's a real investment that will appreciate in value, walk away.
What About the Artemis Program and Future Moon Bases?
NASA's Artemis program plans to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon by the late 2020s. China has similar ambitions. India landed on the lunar south pole in 2023. So what happens to lunar property claims when people actually start living there? Short answer: nothing. No space agency is going to check a database of novelty certificates before building a lunar habitat. The Artemis Accords, signed by over 30 countries, do establish "safety zones" around lunar activities, but these aren't property claims. They're more like buffer zones to prevent interference. The bigger legal question is about resources. The US Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act of 2015 says American companies can own resources they extract from space, like water ice or minerals. But owning extracted resources is different from owning the ground itself. You can own the fish you catch, but you don't own the ocean.
Moon Land vs Star Naming: What's the Difference?
Both moon land certificates and star naming certificates are symbolic. Neither gives you legal ownership of anything in space. But there's an important difference in what you're actually getting. Moon land certificates reference a plot on a map that one company drew up. The coordinates are arbitrary. Star naming certificates, at least the good ones, reference a real star with real astronomical coordinates from NASA databases. You can actually look up the star. You can point a telescope at it. The data is verifiable. At BuyMyPlanet, planet and star certificates include real NASA-verified coordinates, actual distance measurements, and scientific data about the celestial body. Starting at $24.99, it's the same price range as moon land but backed by real astronomy rather than an imaginary grid.
Other Space Property Schemes You'll See Online
Moon land isn't the only celestial real estate scam out there. You'll find companies selling Mars plots, usually referencing the same Dennis Hope claim since he included all planets in his filing. Some sell asteroid deeds, usually for asteroids that NASA has identified as potentially containing valuable metals. Others sell "rights" to name craters, seas, or other features on the Moon. All of these have the same legal standing: none. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) is the only body that officially names features on celestial bodies. Their naming conventions are strict, scientific, and not for sale. If you see a company selling the right to name a lunar crater, they're making it up.
The Real Ways to Get Your Name into Space
If you want a genuine connection to space, you have better options than fake lunar deeds. NASA regularly runs programs where you can send your name to Mars, the Moon, or other destinations on actual spacecraft. Over 10 million names flew on the Mars Perseverance rover in 2020. You can participate in citizen science through projects like Galaxy Zoo, where regular people help classify galaxies. The IAU occasionally opens naming campaigns for newly discovered exoplanets. And naming services like BuyMyPlanet let you associate your name with a real, verified celestial body. The certificate includes actual coordinates, real distance data, and scientific information. It's not legal ownership, but it is connected to something real in the sky. That's more than you can say for a plot on an imaginary moon map.
Will Anyone Ever Legally Own the Moon?
Maybe. As lunar mining becomes commercially viable and countries compete for resources, the pressure to establish property rights will grow. Some legal scholars argue that a new framework is inevitable. Others think the Outer Space Treaty will hold. The most likely scenario is something between full ownership and full commons. Countries might get exclusive mining rights in specific zones, similar to deep sea mining permits. Private companies might own the infrastructure they build but not the land underneath it. Whatever happens, it will be decided by spacefaring nations negotiating new treaties, not by certificates from novelty companies. If you bought moon land, don't expect a lawyer to call you about it.
Planets & Stars to Explore
Mars
The Red Planet — a dusty, cold desert world that may have once harbored ancient rivers and lakes.
Venus
Earth's toxic twin — a hellish world with crushing pressure and sulfuric acid clouds.
Polaris
The North Star. For centuries, sailors and explorers used Polaris to find their way. It sits almost perfectly above Earth's north pole.
Sirius
The brightest star in the night sky. Sirius is a dazzling blue-white star just 8.6 light-years away. Ancient Egyptians built their calendar around it.
Related Articles & Guides
Check out our planets page to explore our full catalog. You can also buy a star as a gift. We also have a guide on can you buy a planet. And if you're curious about star ownership, read can you buy a star. Visit our FAQ for more answers.
Name a Real Planet or Star Instead
You can't own moon land, but you can put your name on a real planet or star with verified NASA data. Certificates start at $24.99 with instant digital delivery.
Explore PlanetsFrequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to buy land on the Moon?
You can legally purchase a novelty certificate claiming you own moon land. However, no country or court recognizes these claims as real property ownership. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty prevents any nation or individual from owning celestial bodies.
How much does an acre of moon land cost?
Most companies sell symbolic moon land for $20 to $50 per acre. Premium framed packages can cost up to $100. These are novelty certificates with no legal standing.
Does NASA recognize moon land ownership?
No. NASA does not recognize any private claims to lunar property. No space agency or government body on Earth recognizes moon land certificates as legitimate property deeds.
What happens to moon land claims when humans colonize the Moon?
Nothing. Space agencies will not consult novelty certificate databases when establishing lunar bases. Future property rights on the Moon will be determined by international treaties negotiated between spacefaring nations.
Is there a better space-themed gift than moon land?
Star and planet naming certificates from services like BuyMyPlanet use real NASA-verified coordinates and astronomical data. Starting at $24.99, they connect your name to a real, verifiable celestial body rather than a plot on an imaginary map.
Got Questions?
Here's everything you need to know about buying a planet
Here's the deal: this is symbolic ownership. Nobody can legally own a planet (there's actually a UN treaty about it). But what you DO get is a gorgeous personalized certificate with real astronomical data and a unique registration number. Think of it as the most original gift you can possibly give someone.
The planet's real name, your personalized owner name, a custom message if you want one, a unique registration number, and the date. It's designed to look premium enough to frame and hang on a wall.
It shows up in your email as a PDF within a few minutes of buying. You can print it at home, take it to a print shop for a nicer version, or just share it digitally. Simple.
People go crazy for it. We've sold over 3,247 planets so far and we get messages all the time from people saying it's the best gift they've ever received. It works for birthdays, Valentine's Day, Christmas, weddings, new babies... pretty much any occasion.
100%. Every planet in our catalog is a real celestial body discovered by NASA, ESA, or other space agencies. We don't make anything up. The data on your certificate comes from confirmed scientific discoveries.
No problem. You've got 30 days to change your mind. Just email us at ethan@buymyplanet.com and we'll sort it out.
Yes! We sell both planets and stars. Stars are beautiful and classic. Planets are full worlds with their own characteristics, categories, and stories. Both come with a personalized certificate and real astronomical data. Pick what fits best, or get both.
Yep! Each certificate gets its own unique registration number. It's like naming a star. The ownership is personal to you, and your certificate is one of a kind.
Right now we do instant digital PDF certificates. You can print them at home or at any print shop. We're working on framed physical versions that'll ship to your door. Stay tuned.
Totally. Symbolic planet ownership is a novelty gift, kind of like star naming services. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty says no country can claim a planet, but personalized certificates are perfectly fine. It's a beloved gift worldwide.
BuyMyPlanet offers symbolic naming certificates. We do not sell lunar property and do not claim to offer legal rights to celestial bodies.