Photos: Zooming in on the 'Face on Mars'

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  • Original face

    Original face

    In 1976, one of the first images from the Viking 1 spacecraft showed a formation in the Cydonia region of Mars that NASA said "resembled a human face." NASA scientists quickly interpreted the image as having been caused the angle of the Sun and resulting shadows. But that didn't stop claims that the "Face on Mars" proved there was intelligent life on the Red Planet.

    ESA's Mars Express equipped with it High Resolution Stero Camera recently revisted Mars most famous face.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • True color

    True color

    The High Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express took this image of the region of the "Face on Mars." The "Face" is just below the center.

    The new camera will allow scientists to see unprecedented new details of the Red Planet.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Zooming in

    Zooming in

    Zooming in on the "Face on Mars."

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Gray face

    Gray face

    The "Face" is show in gray scale similar to the Viking 1 photograph.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • The Face

    The Face

    This image shows a remnant massif thought to have formed via landslides and an early form of debris apron formation. The massif is characterized by a western wall that has moved downslope as a coherent mass.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Map of Mars

    Map of Mars

    The Cydonia area of Mars where the "Face" is located is in a transition zone between the Martian southern highlands and the northern plains. This region is characterized by wide, debris-filled valleys and isolated remnant mounds of various shapes and sizes.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Skull

    Skull

    Another feature in the region resembles a skull.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Side view

    Side view

    A closer perspective of the "Face on Mars."

    Caption by: Andy Smith

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A 1976 image from NASA's Viking 1 showed a rock formation on Mars that resembled a human face and triggered 30 years of speculation.

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Original face

In 1976, one of the first images from the Viking 1 spacecraft showed a formation in the Cydonia region of Mars that NASA said "resembled a human face." NASA scientists quickly interpreted the image as having been caused the angle of the Sun and resulting shadows. But that didn't stop claims that the "Face on Mars" proved there was intelligent life on the Red Planet.

ESA's Mars Express equipped with it High Resolution Stero Camera recently revisted Mars most famous face.

Caption by: Andy Smith

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