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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Bulgarians In Space Property Buying Spree

Plovdiv, Bulgaria (AFP) Mar 24, 2006
Bulgarians were warned Thursday by a self-styled Lunar Embassy to hurry to buy real estate on the moon as only a limited number of properties were left for sale. "We have already had over 30 orders since we opened the embassy two days ago," its "coordinator" Denislav Stoichev said.

"A one-acre property on the moon will cost you 40 leva (20 euros, 24 dollars)," although plots on Mars and Jupiter's moon Io were also available, he added.

The Plovdiv lunar embassy is the first in Bulgaria but one of dozens around the world, licensed by the Galactic Government's CEO -- in this case, Celestial Executive Officer -- US entrepreneur Dennis Hope.

In 1980 Hope proclaimed himself the owner of the moon and all planets and satellites in the solar system (except for the Earth), by exploiting a loophole in the 1967 UN Outer Space Treaty, which states space property "is not subject to national appropriation" but says nothing about private or corporate owners.

He is not the only one. The late Pope John Paul II, former US President Richard Nixon, pop icon Madonna and NASA officials are also proud owners of moon plots, Stoichev said.

Some 327 Bulgarians have already bought lots through the Internet and orders are streaming into the Plovdiv Embassy.

Only one billion lots are left for sale. The lucky owners will receive a lunar deed certificate, with the coordinates of their plot and their signature, as proof of their ownership.

But there are certain lunar codes: "Absolutely no weapons shall be tolerated, ever!" on the moon and littering will lead to "exorbitant" fines, the lunar primary law reads.

Last October, a lunar embassy in China was shut down as a government watchdog called its sale of space property fraudulent and illegal.

Story here: www.spacedaily.com/reports/Bulgarians_In_Space_Property_Buying_Spree.html

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24 bucks, eh?...I've spent that on worse things...

I want the Enceladus geyser!

[Maddad]

I doubt anyone paying the $24 really thinks they're getting ownership of anything other than a nifty piece of paper.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I don't know about that. People who have "named" a star after someone truely believes that it is so. I don't think that this is much different.

And this is really uncharted legal arenas. Of course, the claims will be thrown out eventually, but the court arguments might be interesting.

I still want the water geyser on Enceladus..or enchilada as I like to call it... #shootme#

[Centaur]

Actually, I claimed ownership of the Moon and planets two years before Dennis Hope. In fact, I've actually gone to them through "astral travel" and left flags bearing my name. Shortly thereafter I gave $50 to each of a group of underprivileged persons and and sent them to various celestial bodies armed with rifles to defend my claim. Mr. Hope had better give up, because my claim will prove superior in any court. In any event, I'm asking only $19.99 from each of you in return for a beautifully designed deed to prime celestial real estate. If you're on a tight budget, I'll record your name for a star in a top quality olive drab folder in my personal file cabinet for only $9.99. ;D

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Centaur's Lunar Land Claim: Revealed!

Actually,

I hear quite often that someone owns this, or someone laid claim to that...and so I gave it no additional credence.

But I did investigative research and found something fascinating. After scoring thousands of Clementine images, I came up blank. But I thought that the resolution might not be detailed enough, so I immersed myself in the vast Apollo landing images...and damned if I did not come across an anomaly!

It seems that you have planted your flag...at least on the Moon..

In the famous Buzz shot, relfected in his helmet, one can see something planted next to the American flag on the lunar surface in the Sea of Tranquility.

Blowing it up some, one can make out that the object has writing on it.

And enlarging it even more...I can barely make out "Curt Renz". Further enlargements proved futile, but I think this is evidence of Curt's claim.

Now...on to Cydonia!...

[Centaur]

You’re a real champ, Joe. Great photo analysis - what a hoot! I should have known that if anyone could validate my claim, it would be you. Out of deep gratitude, I hereby deed to Joe Guzman the entire Sea of Tranquility, including the hotels and casinos along its southern shoreline, otherwise known to rocket-set travelers as the “Lunar Riviera”. Treat your guests well and they’ll bring plenty of friends next trip.

EDIT: For some reason the word "g-u-e-s-t-s" (without the hyphens) in my final sentence appears as it should in the preview and in this thread. But among the 30 most recent posts it gets changed to "Future members".

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Curt,

I'm excited!... ;D

That means I get the lander stage of the Apollo 11 mission. I will use the platform for space girls..although I haven't figured out yet how to make 'em sexy through the space suits.

I'm gonna need ice for the Moon Martini's, but it's a long way to the pole for water. But it would seem that I need to traverse throught Curt's other parcels...and I'm sure it's gonna be a lunar Monopoly.

I just couldn't afford it.

I need to work this out some, but thanks for the parcel!... ;D

On the "Guests" snafu...

It's just something that the host has placed on all forums. I could change it to something else. What do you recommend?

[Centaur]

admin said:

On the "Guests" snafu...

It's just something that the host has placed on all forums. I could change it to something else. What do you recommend?

The assumption seems to be that the word "guests" always refers to guests at this site. Sometimes, as in my usage, it refers to an entirely different group of people. In this case those were hotel and casino guests. Therefore, I suggest that the word guests not be printed as anything other than guests.

While we're at it, here's my chance to complain about businesses that refer to their paying customers as guests. True guests never get a bill.