Google of all companies are offering a $20 million prize to the first privately-funded company to land on the moon, explore its surface by moving at least 500 meters, and send back high-definition video back to us here on Earth by 2015.

There's a second-place prize too, with $5 million to whoever completes the same mission. Bonus prizes are on offer for who can travel more than 5km, find water or discover any traces of man's past on the moon, such as the Apollo site. The possibilities are endless, and exciting for those of us who won't be involved with the trip.

High-def video from the moon? I'd love for a company to install a 4K-capable camera on the moon, live-streaming 24/7 - now that would be something.