The exploration of Mars by robots and space probes has been an invaluable source of fascinating and mysterious images. From the first Viking missions to the latest technological advances, our understanding of the Red Planet has evolved considerably. The images captured over the decades reveal a strange, astonishing and sometimes disconcerting world. In this article, we plunge into a world of Martian landscapes that defy the imagination. We’ll explore rock formations that resemble abstract works of art, intriguing atmospheric phenomena, surprisingly shaped craters and much more. These images remind us just how different Mars is from Earth, but they also raise profound questions about its history and potential for life. Get ready for a visual journey through the most bizarre and stunning images of Mars, sure to amaze and inspire.
A human face on Mars
One of the fundamental motivations behind space exploration is to determine whether other forms of life exist in the vastness of the universe. David Bowie emblematically raised the possibility of life on Mars in the 1970s, and this image suggests that this hypothesis was not so fanciful. Indeed, some people seriously considered the prospect back in 1976. The photograph on the left was captured over 45 years ago by NASA’s Viking 1 orbiter, and it appears to depict a face-shaped Martian formation. This enigma has sparked debate about the possibility of a monument created by a possible Martian civilization. However, in 2001, the Mars Global Surveyor took the photograph on the right, revealing that the face was not what it appeared to be.