Can you buy land on Mars or the Moon?
Obiblion · updated
No. Under the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the Moon, Mars and other celestial bodies cannot be claimed by any nation, and no court recognises private deeds to land there. What you can buy is a novelty — a certificate, or a named place on a map — which can still be a lovely gift if it's sold honestly.
What the Outer Space Treaty says
The Outer Space Treaty, opened for signature in 1967 and ratified by more than 110 countries, is the foundation of space law. Its Article II says outer space, ‘including the Moon and other celestial bodies, is not subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of use or occupation, or by any other means’.
Because property rights come from states, and no state may claim territory on the Moon or Mars, there is no government that could register or enforce a private title there. A deed to an acre on Mars is not a property document anywhere on Earth.
So what are the ‘lunar deeds’ sold online?
Several companies sell certificates for acres on the Moon or Mars, often with official-looking seals, maps and the word ‘registry’. They are novelty products. Some sellers say so clearly; others let the paperwork imply more than it can deliver.
Before buying any of them, check three things: whether the seller states plainly that it isn't real property, whether the location is specific or just ‘an acre somewhere’, and what you actually receive beyond a PDF.
An honest alternative: a named place on a map
Obiblion sells something different, and says exactly what it is: a digital parcel on a 3D model of the Solar System. Each parcel is a hexagon with exact coordinates on Mars, Earth, Saturn or any of the eight planets, and its own public page where its holder can give it a name and a dedication.
It isn't land, an investment or a crypto-asset, and it can't be resold. It is a specific place you can visit, show and share — which is what most people buying ‘land on Mars’ as a gift are really after.
How to choose a space gift that feels special
Pick a place with a story. On Earth that can be the exact coordinates of a first meeting or a birthplace; on Mars, a parcel near Olympus Mons or the great canyons; on Saturn, the latitudes where the rings rise.
Then choose the moment. A gift that arrives at the right time — an anniversary at midnight, a birthday morning — means more than the object itself.
Questions
Is it legal to sell land on the Moon?
Selling novelty certificates is generally legal as long as they aren't presented as real property. The certificates themselves confer no ownership recognised by any country.
Can a company own the Moon?
No. The Outer Space Treaty prevents nations from claiming celestial bodies, so there is no legal system under which a company could hold title to the Moon and sell pieces of it.
Is an Obiblion parcel real land?
No. It is a digital parcel inside Obiblion's model of the Solar System, with exact coordinates, a public page and your name on it. It's a place to name and share, not property.
What do I get with an Obiblion parcel?
A specific parcel with its own coordinates and reference, a public page you can name and dedicate, the ability to give it as a gift with a scheduled reveal, and our commitment to keep the Solar System running until at least 2030.