But if revenue was to be generated– in the future– from naming small features (less than a kilometer in diameter) on the Moon, Mars, Mercury, etc., I think even this would have to go through the UN according to the Outer Space Treaty:

“…..4. States Parties have the right to exploration and use of the Moon without discrimination of any kind, on the basis of equality and in accordance with international law and the terms of this Agreement.

5. States Parties to this Agreement hereby undertake to establish an international regime, including appropriate procedures, to govern the exploitation of the natural resources of the Moon as such exploitation is about to become feasible. This provision shall be implemented in accordance with article 18 of this Agreement.”

Since I would consider selling names (but not owning the area) to tiny craters on the Moon as part of– lunar exploitation– laws regulating such practices would have to go through an agreement amongst nations who have signed the Outer Space Treaty.

Plus I can’t imagine the IAU having the time or even the desire to name– all– of the tiny craters (between one meter to less than a kilometer in diameter) on the entire lunar surface– except maybe for some special areas of aesthetic or historical significance.

Marcel

This is beside the main point — the “rights” to name a crater on Mars (or anywhere else) are not Uwingu’s to sell. Yet their pitch to the general public on their web site implies that they are. No one will ever use the names that you buy to refer to those craters.

But purchasing the rights to name craters less than a kilometer in diameter and other small features on the Martian surface is an opportunity to begin to generate extraterrestrial revenue for every nation on Earth and to capture the imagination of the general public.

We need to have a lot more people thinking about humanity’s future in the Solar System. And this would be a way for them to participate very early on with serious money out of their own pockets!

Marcel

Bob Clark

But selling the naming rights to craters– smaller than one kilometer– on the lunar surface could be a way of creating the first commercial enterprise for the owners of the Moon (the people of the Earth according to the Outer Space Treaty). The IAU could still have the right to reject any names that are offensive or inappropriate.

You could perhaps charge $1 million to name a lunar crater between 100 meters to 1 kilometer in diameter; $100,000 for craters between 10 meters to 100 meters; $10,000 for craters between 1 meter to 10 meters. So individuals or organizations would have to spend some– serious money– in order to name these craters. Again, the IAU would have the right to reject any name thought to be offensive or inappropriate. The revenue from this lunar naming enterprise could be divided equally amongst every nation on Earth which would of course favor those nations with the smallest human populations.

But this might catalyze a great deal of interest by all of the nations of the Earth for the future commercialization of the Moon by humans on the lunar surface. It might also be a good investment if a lunar company decides to settle an area where there’s a crater that you named– if they desired purchase the right to– rename– the crater from you:-)

Marcel