The "Face of Mars"

When NASA's Viking 1 Orbiter first took a picture of the "Face" of Mars, also known as Cydonia, it started a controversial uproar about whether it was an artificial formation, or a natural formation.

NASA believes that the formation of the face is due to optical illusion; that is, the formation of the shapes were only present at the time this photo was shot because of the sun's shadows and not because of the actual formation of Cydonia.

Other more high detailed and up to date pictures from the European Space Agency's Mars Express:

These pictures depict a much less obvious face, not to mention the third picture almost looks like a skull! In any case, it is believed by most scientists (although some still persistantly disagree) that Cydonia is a natural formation. In some cases, these scientists that disagree that Cydonia is natural is due to what seems to be an elaborate layout of multiple pyramid looking structures near the location of Cydonia. This leads these scientists to believe that this location may be part of an ancient martian city. The nature of these pyramids will be discussed in the next post!

Of course, all this picture taking is all speculation. I tend to believe that nothing can get settled by mere images. Although there are numerous rovers on Mars, they hardly make a dent in the missing archaeological aspect of Mars. Only when we have the technology to send an excavation team down to the surface of Mars with the right equipment, will there be sufficient evidence to show that some sort of life form, intelligent or not, lived on Mars. Not to mention, since scientists have still no evidence at all of knowing where life comes from, it is sad to say that Earth can potentially be the only planet that has life (and how lonely THAT would be in such a grand, gigantic universe!).

For more high resolution pictures of the "Face," click here!