This image, showing what looks to be a human face [ http://www.hq.nasa.…] (above center) and other features of the Cydonia region on the Martian surface [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…], was produced using data from NASA's Viking 1 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…] orbiter in 1976. Described in a NASA press release [ http://barsoom.msss…] as a "rock formation which resembles a human head", some have since offered the extraordinary explanation that the face is an artificial construct built by a civilization on Mars [ http://www.seds.org…]! However, most scientists have a more conventional view - that this feature [ http://barsoom.msss…] is indeed a natural Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance [ http://barsoom.msss…] depends on illumination and viewing angle. This month [ http://www.jpl.nasa…], the Mars Global Surveyor [ http://mars.jpl.nas…] satellite will be in position to take new pictures [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.g…] of this region of controversial Martian features along with areas around the Mars Pathfinder [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and Viking landing [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] sites.
Explanation
This image, showing what looks to be a human face [ http://www.hq.nasa.…] (above center) and other features of the Cydonia region on the Martian surface [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…], was produced using data from NASA's Viking 1 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.n…] orbiter in 1976. Described in a NASA press release [ http://barsoom.msss…] as a "rock formation which resembles a human head", some have since offered the extraordinary explanation that the face is an artificial construct built by a civilization on Mars [ http://www.seds.org…]! However, most scientists have a more conventional view - that this feature [ http://barsoom.msss…] is indeed a natural Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance [ http://barsoom.msss…] depends on illumination and viewing angle. This month [ http://www.jpl.nasa…], the Mars Global Surveyor [ http://mars.jpl.nas…] satellite will be in position to take new pictures [ ftp://ftp.hq.nasa.g…] of this region of controversial Martian features along with areas around the Mars Pathfinder [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] and Viking landing [ http://antwrp.gsfc.…] sites.
