Moon and Back

What Moon and Back does

Moon and Back is a privately held, bootstrapped content-led editorial platform that publishes expert-tested product reviews and educational articles for two consumer hobbyist verticals: amateur astronomy (telescopes, binoculars, observational accessories) and consumer drones (entry-level to mid-range models aimed at beginners and families, including children). The company is headquartered in Kennebunk, Maine, with a stated team size of 1–10 employees and ongoing publishing activity through at least early 2024. Editorial authority is anchored by named contributors Richard J. Bartlett, a published astronomy author featured in Sky & Telescope and Astronomy magazines with prior writing for Orion Telescopes, and Flavio Salvati, a University of Cambridge physics student and author of 'Fundamentals of Astronomy: A guide for Olympiads'. The site differentiates on a stated 'merit-based' methodology in which reviewers purchase products with their own funds and do not accept manufacturer compensation, with content distributed through SEO-optimized articles and active accounts on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube.

The underlying technology is a standard web-based editorial platform with content management and affiliate link integration; there are no proprietary AI features, no mobile app, no public API, and no disclosed software IP. The product portfolio consists of three offerings: editorial astronomy articles and beginner guides, in-depth product reviews of telescopes, astronomy binoculars, and drones, and a separate e-commerce storefront (store.moonandback.com) selling telescopes, binoculars, and astronomy accessories. Revenue is generated almost entirely through the Amazon Associates affiliate program, with affiliate links embedded in review pages driving readers to Amazon product listings; the company does not charge readers for content and has no disclosed paid pricing model, subscription tier, or B2B contracts. Customer segments are anonymous consumers (families, kids, and adult hobbyists) rather than enterprise buyers, and the company has received media recognition via features in NBC News, Wired, Vice TV, and MSN News.

The business model is a niche affiliate publisher with an adjacent small-scale e-commerce store, operated as a lifestyle business rather than a venture-backed venture. There are no disclosed funding rounds, institutional investors, M&A activity, or leadership changes beyond the two named contributors. Geographic reach is described as global for both the content site and the e-commerce store, with the largest organic audience likely in North America. Competitive differentiation rests on credentialed authorship and editorial credibility in a narrow category, while the principal structural risks are dependence on a single monetization channel (Amazon) and exposure to organic search algorithm changes affecting hobbyist-intent content.

Name

Moon and Back

Legal name

Moon and Back

Website

https://moonandback.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Moon and Back is a privately held, bootstrapped content-led editorial platform that publishes expert-tested reviews and beginner guides for astronomy and consumer drones, monetizing primarily through Amazon affiliate referrals to a long-tail consumer audience.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Astronomy & Drone Reviews

NAICS

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (519)

akta.pro primary industry

Price Comparison, Deals, Cashback & Loyalty Shopping Platforms (BPAMAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comparison Shopping & Price Discovery Portals (BPAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Astronomy product reviews
• Telescope buying guides
• Drone product reviews
• Stargazing education content
• Affiliate content publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Affiliate Revenue: The company earns commissions through affiliate links to products on Amazon and other retailers. Reviews include affiliate links (e.g., 'which you can buy here' links to Amazon) when referring readers to purchase reviewed products.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Moon and Back operates a web-based editorial platform that publishes expert, unbiased product reviews and educational articles about consumer telescopes, astronomy binoculars, and drones. The company purchases products with its own funds, runs them through consistent hands-on testing, and provides merit-based recommendations. It monetizes primarily through Amazon Associates affiliate links embedded in its content and operates an associated e-commerce storefront for selected astronomy products.

Product overview

Moon and Back is a free, informational astronomy resource for kids and adults. It operates as a content site offering expert editorial articles, buying guides, and unbiased product reviews of consumer telescopes, astronomy binoculars, and drones. The company also maintains an associated e-commerce store. The portfolio consists of three main offerings: editorial articles and guides on astronomy topics, expert product reviews of telescopes and drones, and the Moon and Back Store for product purchases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Amazon AssociatescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoon and Back participates in the Amazon Associates affiliate program, earning commissions when readers purchase products through affiliate links in their reviews. Reviews include links to Amazon product pages (e.g., 'which you can buy here' with amzn.to shortened URLs). This is the primary monetization mechanism for the site.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Sky & Telescope: Established astronomy magazine and review authority, where Moon and Back's Richard J. Bartlett has previously been featured. It is a direct competitor for astronomy enthusiast readership and a destination for telescope and binocular reviews.
• Tom's Guide: Long-running consumer technology review publication monetized via affiliate links. Targets the same buyer-intent search queries as Moon and Back but with vastly larger editorial scale and brand recognition, particularly in drones and consumer electronics.
• Astronomy Magazine: Long-established hobbyist astronomy publication that previously ran Richard J. Bartlett's column. Competes with Moon and Back for the same audience of amateur astronomers seeking equipment guidance and stargazing content.
• Popular Science: Mainstream science and technology publication with product recommendation content covering telescopes, drones, and consumer electronics. Adjacent competitor to Moon and Back for hobbyist science audiences.
• Wirecutter (New York Times): The NYT's product-recommendation service and the prototypical affiliate-led expert review site. Wirecutter competes directly with Moon and Back for the same high-intent commercial keywords and shares the same Amazon-Associates-driven revenue model, but at vastly greater scale and category breadth.
• The Strategist (NYMag): New York Magazine's product-recommendation vertical that pioneered the curated expert-review format. Comparable to Moon and Back in editorial philosophy and affiliate revenue model, with a far larger editorial footprint and brand.

Direct peers

• Cloudynights: Long-running astronomy enthusiast community and review forum specializing in telescope and binocular equipment. Directly comparable to Moon and Back's astronomy audience, though Cloudynights is community-driven rather than editorial-led.
• Space.com: Major astronomy and space-exploration content site covering news, education, and product recommendations. The most direct topical peer to Moon and Back's astronomy-focused content, competing for the same hobbyist audience and adjacent search terms.
• DroneDJ: Specialized consumer and prosumer drone news and review site. Directly comparable to Moon and Back's drone vertical in audience, content format, and affiliate-monetization approach, but with deeper drone-specific coverage.
• RTINGS.com: Independent review site known for rigorous, methodology-driven testing of consumer electronics and optics. Closely comparable to Moon and Back in its expert-led, hands-on testing ethos and affiliate-revenue business model, though RTINGS operates across broader electronics categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MoonAndBack_ME
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@MoonAndBack_ME
• Facebookfacebook.com/moonandbackme
• Instagraminstagram.com/moonandback_me
• TikToktiktok.com/@moonandback_me
• Pinterestpinterest.com/MoonAndBack_ME
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moonandback-media-llc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moon and Back