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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.

The Face on Mars

File:MGS Cydonia3.jpg

Mars Global Surveyor high-resolution photo of the "Face on Mars" (North is to the upper left)

One of the Cydonian mesas, situated at 40°45' north latitude and 9°26' west longitude, took on the striking appearance of a humanoid Face on Mars in a photo taken by Viking 1 on July 25, 1976. Some commentators, most notably Richard C. Hoagland, believe it to be evidence of a long-lost Martian civilization along with other features they believe are present, such as apparent pyramids, which they argue are part of a ruined city. While analysis of the early Viking images suggested that the features of the Face might not be an accidental consequence of viewing conditions^[1], today, it is generally understood to be an optical illusion, an example of pareidolia. After analysis of the higher resolution Mars Global Surveyor data NASA stated that "a detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on the viewing angle and angle of illumination"^[2].

Originally, eighteen images of the Cydonia Mensae region were taken by the Viking 1 and 2 orbiters, but only seven have resolutions better than 250 m/pixel (820 ft/pixel). The other eleven images have resolutions worse than 550 m/pixel (1800 ft/pixel) and are virtually useless for studying the feature. Of the seven good images, the lighting and time at which two pairs of images were taken are so close as to reduce the number to five usable, distinct images. The Mission to Mars: Viking Orbiter Images of Mars CD-ROM image numbers are: 35A72 (VO-1010), 70A13 (VO-1011), 561A25 (VO-1021), 673B56 & 673B54 (VO-1063), and 753A33 & 753A34 (VO-1028).

Since September 2006, a succession of new data from the Cydonia region have been published by the European Space Agency and the HiRISE team. These have included photographs taken by the Mars Express probe^[3] and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter^[4], and a 3D animation of the "Face on Mars" using a combination of digital data from the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on the Mars Express probe and the Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) on board NASA's Mars Global Surveyor^[5]. In contrast to the relatively low resolution of the Viking images of Cydonia, these new platforms afford much improved resolution. For instance, the Mars Express images are at a resolution of 14 m/pixel (46 ft/pixel) or better.

Cydonia in popular culture

In Mission to Mars, a group of astronauts discover that the "face formation" is actually a structure built by the Martians.

The Face on Mars was also featured in the first season episode "Space" of the television series The X-Files.

In the TV show Invader Zim, the episode "Battle of the Planets" featured the Face on Mars as an alien structure.

An episode of the TV show Futurama features the Face of Mars as the entrance to the Martian Reservation, the home of the native Martians.

The alternative rock band Muse have a song called "Knights of Cydonia" on their album Black Holes And Revelations.

In the adventure game Zak McKracken, players explore the Face on Mars.

In the strategy game X-COM: UFO Defense, the final assault on the alien headquarters ("Cydonia or Bust") occurs in the Cydonia region.

In the computer role playing game Final Fantasy IV (1991) the face appears on the surface of the moon. Also in the remake Final Fantasy IV Advance (2005/2006) but once the game is completed, it becomes a dungeon. In some other Square Games also such a face appears, like Secret of Mana (1993/1994).

References

^ Carlotto, M. J. (1988) Digital Imagery Analysis of Unusual Martian Surface Features. Applied Optics 27, 1926-1933
^ The Face on Mars, Viking Project, NASA website, accessed 26 April 2007
^ Cydonia - the face on Mars, 3D rendering of Mars Express imagery, ESA website, accessed 26 April 2007
^ Popular Landform in Cydonia Region, HiRISE website, accessed 26 April 2007
^ Cydonia's 'Face on Mars' in 3D animation, animation of Mars Global Surveyor imagery, ESA website, accessed 26 April 2007

External links

Astronomy

Viking Project, NASA
Mars Express, ESA (NASA page)
Mars Global Surveyor, NASA
High-resolution images of Cydonia, Mars Express orbiter
Astronomy Picture of the Day 25-9-06, recent visual of the Face on Mars
Astronomy Picture of the Day 26-9-06, recent visual of the Cydonia region (including the Face on Mars)
Discussion of MOC and "Face on Mars", Malin Space Science Systems (also, Face on Mars)
Cydonia Mensae at Google Mars
Independently processed Cydonia Images

"Face on Mars" as artifact

The Enterprise Mission, Hoagland's official website
The Hidden Records, official website of a book by Wayne Herschel
Face on Mars, entry in the Skeptic's Dictionary
Hoagland debunking at Bad Astronomy, a discussion of the science and pseudoscience of Cydonia
The exact position of the Face on Mars on Geody, linked to NASA World Wind

[1] Carlotto, M. J. (1988) Digital Imagery Analysis of Unusual Martian Surface Features. Applied Optics 27, 1926-1933

[2] The Face on Mars, Viking Project, NASA website, accessed 26 April 2007

[3] Cydonia - the face on Mars, 3D rendering of Mars Express imagery, ESA website, accessed 26 April 2007

[4] Popular Landform in Cydonia Region, HiRISE website, accessed 26 April 2007

[5] Cydonia's 'Face on Mars' in 3D animation, animation of Mars Global Surveyor imagery, ESA website, accessed 26 April 2007

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 [[Image:MGS Cydonia3.jpg|thumb|200 px|right|Mars Global Surveyor high-resolution photo of the "Face on Mars" (North is to the upper left)]]
-One of the Cydonian mesas, situated at 40°45' north [[latitude]] and 9°26' west [[longitude]], took on the striking appearance of a [[humanoid]] Face on Mars in a photo taken by [[Viking 1]] on [[July 25]], [[1976]]. Some commentators, most notably [[Richard C. Hoagland]], believe it to be evidence of a long-lost [[life on Mars|Martian civilization]] along with other features they believe are present, such as apparent [[pyramid]]s, which they argue are part of a [[ruins|ruined city]]. While [[image analysis|analysis]] of the early Viking images suggested that the features of the Face might not be an accidental consequence of viewing conditions<ref>Carlotto, M. J. (1988) [http://www.newfrontiersinscience.com/martianenigmas/Papers/AO1888.pdf Digital Imagery Analysis of Unusual Martian Surface Features].  ''Applied Optics'' '''27''', 1926-1933</ref>, today, it is generally understood to be an [[optical illusion]], an example of [[pareidolia]]. After analysis of the higher resolution [[Mars Global Surveyor]] data [[NASA]] stated that "a detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on the viewing angle and angle of [[illumination]]"<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_60.html The Face on Mars], Viking Project, [[NASA]] website, accessed [[26 April]] [[2007]]</ref>. Some other scientists believe that the Face is an artificial monument. {{who}}
+One of the Cydonian mesas, situated at 40°45' north [[latitude]] and 9°26' west [[longitude]], took on the striking appearance of a [[humanoid]] Face on Mars in a photo taken by [[Viking 1]] on [[July 25]], [[1976]]. Some commentators, most notably [[Richard C. Hoagland]], believe it to be evidence of a long-lost [[life on Mars|Martian civilization]] along with other features they believe are present, such as apparent [[pyramid]]s, which they argue are part of a [[ruins|ruined city]]. While [[image analysis|analysis]] of the early Viking images suggested that the features of the Face might not be an accidental consequence of viewing conditions<ref>Carlotto, M. J. (1988) [http://www.newfrontiersinscience.com/martianenigmas/Papers/AO1888.pdf Digital Imagery Analysis of Unusual Martian Surface Features].  ''Applied Optics'' '''27''', 1926-1933</ref>, today, it is generally understood to be an [[optical illusion]], an example of [[pareidolia]]. After analysis of the higher resolution [[Mars Global Surveyor]] data [[NASA]] stated that "a detailed analysis of multiple images of this feature reveals a natural looking Martian hill whose illusory face-like appearance depends on the viewing angle and angle of [[illumination]]"<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_60.html The Face on Mars], Viking Project, [[NASA]] website, accessed [[26 April]] [[2007]]</ref>.
 Originally, eighteen images of the Cydonia Mensae region were taken by the [[Viking 1]] and [[Viking 2|2]] [[orbiter]]s, but only seven have resolutions better than 250 m/[[pixel]] (820 ft/pixel). The other eleven images have resolutions worse than 550 m/pixel (1800 ft/pixel) and are virtually useless for studying the feature. Of the seven good images, the lighting and time at which two pairs of images were taken are so close as to reduce the number to five usable, distinct images. The ''Mission to Mars: Viking Orbiter Images of Mars'' CD-ROM image numbers are: 35A72 (VO-1010), 70A13 (VO-1011), 561A25 (VO-1021), 673B56 & 673B54 (VO-1063), and 753A33 & 753A34 (VO-1028).