Difference between revisions of "The Face on Mars"
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| − | '''The Face on Mars''' is an eroded mesa-like landform in the [[Cydonia]] region. | + | {{Mars atlas}} |
| + | '''The Face on Mars''' is an eroded mesa-like landform in the [[Cydonia]] region. This article has been updated with many pictures that were taken with more advanced cameras then the original image that showed the face. One might guess that with better images, the face would look more like a face, but it just looks like a broken up mesa. | ||
==Theories of alien construction== | ==Theories of alien construction== | ||
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| − | [[w:Pareidolia|Pareidolia]] is the tendency of a human observer to interpret a configuration of objects as a human face. The human brain has specialized mechanisms for face recognition, and can easily interpret what it sees as a face. | + | Due to the fact that the first few pictures of the face showed a face like structure due to shadows, fringe theories have arisen that the face (and surrounding [[mesa|mesas]]) were built by an alien civilization, and that [[NASA]] was covering up the evidence. However, this notion is not accepted by any Mars scientist, and higher resolution photos of the face taken by the HiRISE cameras of the [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]] have shown that it is just an ordinary land-form. |
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| + | [[w:Pareidolia|Pareidolia]] is the tendency of a human observer to interpret a configuration of objects as a human face. The human brain has specialized mechanisms for face recognition, and can easily interpret what it sees as a face. In the original Viking image, we did not see the part of the face that was all broken up--we just saw the best side of the face. | ||
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| + | [[File:PspfaceG22 026771 2213 XI 41N009Wctx.4threeviews.jpg|600pxr|Three views of face. Had we seen both sides of the face, we may not have thought it was a face. The side we did not see was all broken up.]] | ||
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| + | Three views of face. Had we seen both sides of the face, we may not have thought it was a face. The side we did not see was all broken up.]] | ||
[[Image:face.gif|thumb|240x240px|Image of the legendary face from the Mars|alt=|left]] | [[Image:face.gif|thumb|240x240px|Image of the legendary face from the Mars|alt=|left]] | ||
| − | [[Image:Mars_face_HiRISE_MRO.png|thumb|400x400px|Higher resolution image of the face|alt=|center]] | + | [[Image:Mars_face_HiRISE_MRO.png|thumb|400x400px|Higher resolution image of the face--taken with HiRISE|alt=|center]] |
| − | <gallery class="center" widths=" | + | <gallery class="center" widths="380px" heights="360px"> |
File:3234 2210facelefteye.jpg|Close view of left eye of face using HiView | File:3234 2210facelefteye.jpg|Close view of left eye of face using HiView | ||
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| + | File:3234 2210lowelowerrface.jpg|Close view of lower face using HiView | ||
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| + | File:3234 2210lowerface.jpg|Another close view of lower face using HiView. Some people said that they saw teeth here. But, the scene looks like an eroded hill/mesa. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
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| + | [[File:PSP 003234 2210facewidelabeled.jpg|600pxr|Face on Mars showing parts that are enlarged in other images. Picture was taken by HiRISE.]] | ||
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| + | Face on Mars showing parts that are enlarged in other images. | ||
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| + | [[File:3234 2210faceeyescolor.jpg|thumb|500px|left|Close, color view of eyes of Face]] | ||
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| + | [[File:3234 2210faceemouthlabeled.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Close, color view of mouth of Face]] | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
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| + | *[[Mare Acidalium quadrangle]] | ||
| + | *[[High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE)]] | ||
| + | *[[HiWish program]] | ||
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| + | ==External links== | ||
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| + | *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ-1syOR5DI The 'mystery' of the 'Face on Mars' in 60 seconds] | ||
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| + | *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSTb16AGj7I DeepAstronomy SE: The Face On Mars (Isn't)] | ||
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[[Category:Topography]] | [[Category:Topography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 06:43, 11 May 2020
The Face on Mars is an eroded mesa-like landform in the Cydonia region. This article has been updated with many pictures that were taken with more advanced cameras then the original image that showed the face. One might guess that with better images, the face would look more like a face, but it just looks like a broken up mesa.
Theories of alien construction
Due to the fact that the first few pictures of the face showed a face like structure due to shadows, fringe theories have arisen that the face (and surrounding mesas) were built by an alien civilization, and that NASA was covering up the evidence. However, this notion is not accepted by any Mars scientist, and higher resolution photos of the face taken by the HiRISE cameras of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter have shown that it is just an ordinary land-form.
Pareidolia is the tendency of a human observer to interpret a configuration of objects as a human face. The human brain has specialized mechanisms for face recognition, and can easily interpret what it sees as a face. In the original Viking image, we did not see the part of the face that was all broken up--we just saw the best side of the face.
Three views of face. Had we seen both sides of the face, we may not have thought it was a face. The side we did not see was all broken up.]]
Close view of left eye of face using HiView
Close view of lower face using HiView
Another close view of lower face using HiView. Some people said that they saw teeth here. But, the scene looks like an eroded hill/mesa.
Face on Mars showing parts that are enlarged in other images.
