Iconic Space Images #10

Face on Mars? LOL.

When Viking 1 orbiter went around Mars in the 70s, it captured multiple images of the Martian surface. One among these went on to become the infamous Face on Mars, with multiple conspiracy theorists arguing that if it looks like a face, it must be a face.

Needless to say, this mountain is not a human face. It is a “mesa”, a flat hill with steep sides in a region called Cydonia. This conspiracy theory had gripped the public imagination so much that when other missions flew past the region, it became a priority to photograph this mesa. Mars Global Surveyor flew past this region multiple times, taking better pictures each time showing what the landform really is.

Never miss out on what’s happening at TeamIndus and opportunities for you to engage with us.

Signup for our newsletter.

Liked this article? Scroll below and recommend it.