Moon-ifest Destiny

CBC News: Company gains U.S. approval to open moon business

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. - A private company has been given the green light by the U.S. government to explore the moon. Clients will be allowed to send a time capsule of messages and photos to the lunar surface, use hi-tech interactive equipment and view the equipment left behind from U.S. Apollo and Russian landings.

So how does this work? Does the United States Of America actually have a claim on the moon? Does it own the moon? Is it still the case that if you land somewhere and stick a flag in the soil, a la Chris Columbus, you get to keep it? The whole of the moon? (heh.) Is this supported by international law? And if so, does international law on Earth only apply to our satellites, or does it extend to other planets as well? And how does that work?

And while I'm at it...
Why is the sky blue?
Which way does the wind blow?
Who did let the dogs out?

... and that reminds me of one of my favourite quotes:

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read."
- Groucho Marx