Here you can look up objects in WHOIS databases at: RIPE , ARIN , LACNIC , APNIC and InterNIC . If the registration authority is not known use a whois client that can intelligently pick a registration authroity for you.
whois -h whois.ripe.net terminal_query
whois -h whois.arin.net terminal_query
whois -h whois.afrinic.net terminal_query
whois -h whois.apnic.net terminal_query
whois -h whois.lacnic.net terminal_query
whois -h whois.internic.net terminal_query
whois terminal_query