Contact: Agustin Chicarro
agustin.chicarro@esa.int
31-071-565-3613
European Space Agency

'Face on Mars' in Cydonia Region

Caption: A perspective view showing the so-called "Face on Mars" located in the Cydonia region. The image shows a remnant massif thought to have formed via landslides and an early form of debris apron formation. The massif is characterized by a western wall that has moved downslope as a coherent mass. The massif became famous as the "Face on Mars" in a photo taken on July 25, 1976, by the American Viking 1 Orbiter. Image recorded during orbits 3253 and 1216 by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express. Image is based on data gathered over the Cydonia region, with a ground resolution of approximately 13.7 meters per pixel. Cydonia lies at approximately 40.75° North and 350.54° East.

Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum), Malin Space Science Systems

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