31 july 1976 nasa relesease famous

31 July 1976: NASA Relesease the Famous Viking I 'Face on Mars' Photo

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Original Viking photo of the 'Face on Mars' in the Cydonia region.

Image source: Wikipedia

Via Wikipedia.

Cydonia Mensae is an albedo feature (region) on Mars. It lies in

the planet's northern hemisphere in a transitional zone between the

heavily-cratered regions to the south and relatively smooth plains

to the North. Cydonia itself is covered in numerous mesas and may

have been a coastal zone if planetologists are correct in believing

that the northern plains were once ocean beds.

One of the Cydonian mesas, situated at roughly 40.9 degrees North

latitude and 9.45 degrees West longitude, took on the striking

appearance of a human Face on Mars in a photo taken by Viking 1 in

1976. Whilst generally believed to be an optical illusion

(pareidolia), others view it as evidence of a long-lost Martian

civilization. Other features are argued to have been observed, such

as apparent pyramids. A popular belief is that these are part of a

ruined city. NASA has stated however that "a detailed analysis of

multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking martian

hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on viewing angle

and angle of illumination.". More recent pictures by the Mars

Global Surveyor seem only to confirm the validity of this

scientific opinion.