face on Mars
Martian optical illusion
The face on Mars is a rock formation in the Cydonia region of Mars that, in a 1976 Viking 1 photograph, appeared to resemble a humanoid face.
The image sparked theories about ancient Martian civilizations and alien construction.
Higher-resolution photos later revealed an ordinary eroded mesa—the "face" was a trick of shadows and low image quality.
The phrase now exemplifies pareidolia and how people find meaningful patterns in random formations.
- pareidoliaPerceiving patterns in randomness
- optical illusionMisleading visual perception
- VikingMedieval Nordic raider
- NASAFederal space exploration bureau
- space explorationInvestigating the cosmos beyond Earth
hoax · conspiracy theory · extraterrestrial · monument · pyramid · shadow · illusion · rock formation · conspiracy · artifact · alien · spacecraft · probe · photograph · tabloid · anomaly · crater · mystery
- pareidoliaman in the moon, simulacra
- UFO LoreUFOs, flying saucers, alien abduction, alien abductions, close encounters
- hoaxesalien autopsy, moon landing hoax, War of the Worlds, fake photos, forgeries
- pseudosciencehomeopathy, astrology, phrenology, numerology, palmistry
- Space mythsman in the moon, moon rabbit, shooting stars, star signs, zodiac
- UFO explanationsUFO, weather balloon, Venus, swamp gas, ball lightning
face on Marsalien artifact
Object made by nonhumans
Nazca Lines · Stonehenge · Pyramids of Giza · intelligent design · crop circles
face on Marsscientific consensus
Prevailing expert judgment
water on Mars · Higgs boson · gravitational waves · plate tectonics
face, Mars, faces, faced, facing, facial, reface, deface, defacement