NASA's 'Face on Mars' Photo Turns 47 Today

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 25 July 2023, 01:07 pm

This day in history: NASA's Viking 1 spacecraft took a stunning photograph of Mars on July 25, 1976, sparking a global debate over alien life. The photo, nicknamed "Face on Mars," seemed to depict a sculpture of eyes, a nose, and a mouth near the Red Planet's Cydonia region.

The mysterious "face," about two miles long, seemed to be looking back at the cameras, arousing widespread interest and skepticism. The photograph caused a commotion, spawning media headlines and books pondering the possible secrets of Mars, even though several scientists rejected it as just a simple Martian mesa with peculiar shadows.

NASA anticipated that publicizing the image would engage people and spark enthusiasm for exploring Mars. However, the "Face on Mars" also sparked several conspiracy theories, with some believing it was proof of life on Mars being concealed by the US space agency, according to Fox News. In addition, many who supported the space agency's spending plans hoped to find evidence of a former Martian civilization.

It's Not a Face

The Viking 1 spacecraft, launched on August 20, 1975, made history as the first mission to successfully land on Mars. In the case of suspected Martian microbes, both landers were outfitted with sterilizing procedures. Viking 2's counterpart launched on September 9, 1975.

NASA subsequently determined that the Face on Mars was just an ordinary mesa, dispelling theories of alien life as technology evolved. The visage nonetheless made its way into mainstream culture, appearing in movies, video games, comic books, and more.

The first study was supported by more precise photos of the area taken by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor in April 1998. It was discovered that certain light ray angles striking the rock's surface and wells were what created the optical appearance of a face, per CNET.

Clearer Photos Reveal More Details

Later, further pictures were shot. In April 2001, the Mars Global Surveyor returned, and in 2007, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter got a high-resolution photograph. Mars Express, a European Space Agency mission, contributed photos.

An intriguing location between Mars' cratered southern highlands and smoother northern plains is the Cydonia region, where the face is located. It may have formerly been close to a large Martian ocean if the planet's atmosphere had been suitable for retaining water on its surface.

There are numerous aesthetically remarkable structures on Mars' surface, yet the Face on Mars is still one of its most recognizable features. Mars Express and Viking captured images of additional strange shapes, such as smiling faces, skulls, and more, per Space.com.

On this day, the 47th anniversary of the discovery of the Face on Mars, astronomy fans take a look back on the intriguing story of a Martian mystery that ignited humanity's curiosity about the secrets of the cosmos and the possibility of life beyond Earth.