Mars Anomalies: Cydonia Mensae and More

Rendered and colorized image of the Face and City at Cydonia Mensae on Mars.

These are the famous images from the Viking orbiter showing the Face on Mars and other anomalous features.

The "Face" on Mars is a rock formation on the surface of Mars resembling an enormous humanoid face staring straight up into space. It is about 2.5 km long x 2.0 km wide x 0.4 km tall and is located on a flat plain known as Cydonia Mensae in Mars' northern hemisphere (41 deg. N latitude 9.5 deg. longitude). The Face and other objects described on this page were imaged by one of the Viking Orbiters in the summer of 1976.

The Face was dismissed by scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory as a trick of light and shadow and forgotten. The original image (Viking orbiter frame 35A72) was rediscovered by Vincent DiPietro and Gregory Molenaar, two engineers at the Goddard Spaceflight Center, several years later. They also found the second image (70A13) containing the Face under slightly different illumination with the sun about 20 deg. higher in the sky.

The first two images have been processed from the raw frames. The processing consisted of applying a sharpening filter, increasing the contrast and brightness, and despeckling to remove noise.

Processed Viking image F035A72 showing Face and City (296K). Raw data (530K)

Processed Viking image F070A13 showing Face and DM Pyramid (254K). Raw data (487K)

The following files were processed from the raw images above by Dr. Mark Carlotto.

Detail of F035A72 image showing City and Face

Close-up of Face on Mars, from F035A72 image

Close-up of Face on Mars, from F070A13 image

Close-up of Fortress, near City

Close-up of Fortress, 3-D perspective transformation

Close-up of DM (DiPietro and Molenaar) Pyramid, note what could be interpreted as possible blast damage.

The image below is a side-by-side stereo image over the area of overlap between these two Viking frames. The baseline distance B is approximately 51 km and the altitude H=1725 km. For a pixel size D=48 meters, the resolvable height (for a 1 pixel parallax shift) is 2DH/B = 5.34 km. From shadow analysis the height of the D&M is about 1.25 km. Thus the height of the D&M will cause of parallax shift of about 1/4 pixel. As can be seen in the stereo image there is only a small "3-D effect".

To view the side-by-side images in stereo, first look away and focus at a point in the distance. Then shift your gaze to the screen. You should see three images. Concentrate (but don't focus) on the middle one and try to bring different parts of the view into correspondence. This will take some practice. If you have difficulty seeing stereo, try moving back from the screen. Be patient, it's worth it!

Stereoscopic view of DM Pyramid and surrounding area.

Here is a side-by-side stereo image magnified 2X. Note the subtle marking on the northern buttress of the pyramid which gives the impression of a trident (perhaps pointing to the Face beyond).

2X Stereoscopic view of DM Pyramid.

In these images evidence of both 4- and 5-sided symmetry can be seen. The butresses suggest a 5-sided structure. On the other hand there is some photographic evidence that the western face lies at right angles to the southern face. In the lower sun angle image (35A72) the impression that the western face follows the pentagonal layout of the butresses is stronger. The geometry of this unusual object remains an open question.

Unusual linear structure leading from center of a crater. Is this an underground tunnel, perhaps used in mining, or just a faultline?

Detail of the anomalies on Olympus Crater. Is this some type of mining operation?

Complete image of Olympus Crater showing anomalies on the north side of the edge.

Inca City -- Mariner 9 image of the "Inca City"

During the Mariner 9 mission, scientists found an unusual rectilinear structure associated with the south polar pitted terrain which they dubbed the "Inca City". Located near -80 degrees latitude and 64 degrees longitude, NASA's explanation is that it is likely the result of wind deflation of deposits from underllying rough terrain. The "cells" in the image are about 4-5 kilometers in width.

Mining operation on the surface of Mars?

Phobos is perhaps one of the most anomalous objects in the solar system.

Phobos, one of two moons of Mars. Note strange parallel grooves on surface and possible opening on the left. Whether Phobos is a natural or an artificial moon remains unknown, and will not be determined until we can land a probe on Phobos.

Another image of Phobos, showing large crater.

Several Close-up views of Phobos

The Soviet Phobos 2 mission is itself an anomaly.

Photo from UFO magazine showing one fo the last frames sent from Phobos 2, illustrating what appears to be a strange UFO, seen just before the Soviets lost contact with their probe.

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