Continued
Continued
5-11-01
An Independent Look at Tom Van Flandern's "Crowned Face"
The "Crowned Face."
One of the most interesting of Tom Van Flandern's images, shown at a recent press conference resembling his prior appearance at the Washington Press Club, shows a human-like visage gazing out from the wall of a Martian cliff. Unlike many of Van Flandern's anomalies, the so-called "Crowned Face" is not seen in profile, making it easier for nonbiased viewers to see and -- possibly -- easier for planetary SETI to investigate.
Although I find the Crowned Face more and more interesting upon repeated viewing, my initial reaction -- that this is probably, if not certainly, a natural formation -- remains unchanged. But deciding which Martian "faces" are worth investigation and which aren't unleashes an epistemological nightmare. Who are any of us to judge the archaeological merits of a given Martian "face"? After all, we're all "terrestrially biased." We know essentially nothing about the "Martian" civilization that built the structures under investigation (assuming, of course, that they were indeed built).
Presumably the hypothetical Martians were constrained by the same laws of physics we experience on Earth. But venturing much farther than this axiom plunges the planetary SETI question into increasingly nebulous (albeit ultimately falsifiable) hypotheses that can be scoffed away as wishful thinking.
So what does Van Flandern's "Crowned Face" represent? A few candidate signs of possible artificial origin are observed. The facial dimensions, for example, seem accurate. The "nose" appears to be an actual nose-shaped protuberance with possible suggestions of nostrils (although these appear somewhat lop-sided). There are no eyes, per se, but the brow features reasonably symmetrical arches where eye sockets can be easily inferred. The "mouth," if it is indeed a mouth, is a mere suggestion, but nevertheless consistent with the hypothesis that the Crowned Face is a highly eroded, inconceivably ancient ruin.
Unlike the rectilinear border that frames the Face in Cydonia, there is no defined edge to the Crowned Face's right-hand side. This feature is inferred by the seeming consistency of the other supposed facial features. The Crowned Face is topped with a symmetrical (?) "crown" of what looks like random boulders, with the exception of a central indentation.
There is an overall impression of bisymmetry and facial detail that, while intriguing, seems to be largely superficial. Unlike the Cydonia Face, the Crowned Face is embedded in a series of natural-looking ripples. One such "ripple" is the feature construed as a "mouth."
It's hard to predict, based on photographic data, if the facial likeness will persist from different perspectives and angles of illumination. The fact that the Crowned Face is a very shallow feature with no prominent shadows, makes testing for artificiality exceptionally difficult.
A useful standard in assessing a given feature's potential artificiality is its ability to conform to a priori criteria. If the Crowned Face is indeed a huge sculpture, then better images should show internal detail strengthening the facial resemblance. But until such images are taken, no one can be absolutely sure.
Van Flandern is to be credited for drawing attention to a face-like surface feature that is not of the endlessly questionable "profile" variety found elsewhere in his slide presentation. While I don't think the Crowned Face represents intelligent design, it at least provides us with the opportunity for future imaging to help settle the debate. In my opinion, the same cannot be said for Van Flandern's "Nefertiti" image and various animal likenesses.
5-13-01
"Road" Leads Way Into "Fort" (Updated!)
The "Fort" in Cydonia.
"Road" feature emanating from Fort's eastern "wall."
In previous articles I've presented my interpretation of the "Fort" as a collapsed structure built atop a geometric foundation. I was subsequently intrigued to note a conspicuous road-like feature emanating from the Fort's eastern flank. In the enlargement above, the "road" appears to rest in a shallow depression that, if extended in a straight line, would intersect the "Face" itself.
Enlargement of partial rectangle alongside "tube."
The "road" is perhaps one of the most mysterious variations of the ubiquitous Martian "tubes." It juts from the Fort at a near-right angle -- not a trait one would expect from a wind-driven phenomenon. The scallops comprising the "road" are densely packed and of the same size, unlike those of many perplexing "tube" variants found on Mars.
Moreover, the "road's" connection to the Fort suggests a functional interpretation. Perhaps the "road" is a sort of rail system once used to transport Fort-dwellers. Or, if Cydonia was once a shallow lake, the "road" could have been some sort of water-intake or waste disposal device.
Since there are no "roads" elsewhere in Cydonia, one is forced to consider the odds of two such morphologically unique features arising next to each other by sheer chance.
Probable continuation of "road" across surface of Fort's eastern "platform."
Update: On closer inspection, I noticed that a distinct (though evidently abraded) linear feature crosses the surface of the Fort's eastern platform. This feature parallels the aforementioned "road" feature, leading one to further speculate that it is the remains of a transportation system. The "road's" apparent continuation leads directly into the sunken mass I have proposed might be the collapsed remains of a megascale enclosure. Perhaps the "road," with its elevated continuation, once constituted a system whereby the inhabitants of the Fort could descend to ground level.
Evidence of Excavation Near "Cliff"
Short crests to the immediate east of "Cliff" suggest mining operation. Image courtesy Lan Fleming.
Lan Fleming has noted that the small grooves located to the immediate east of the Cliff defy JPL's sand-dune explanation, as the wind forces necessary to deposit the "dune trains" posited by JPL could simply not form in the space afforded. (The features JPL specifically addressed are of the longer variety, such as the infamous "Glass Worm" addressed by Richard Hoagland and Arthur C. Clarke.)
Lack of "blast shadow" strongly suggests that the Cliff was formed after the impact event. The new MGS photo adds weight to the hypothesis that the Cliff was built, possibly using large machines. The nature of the straight, architectural-looking "wall" on top of the Cliff remains unexplained, as does the presence of the "tetrahedral rim pyramid" seemingly carved into the northeastern lip of the nearby crater.
5-15-01
The Fort: More Evidence of Structure
Along the eastern "wall" of the Fort is an isolated teardrop-shaped formation. Contextual and morphological clues suggest that the Fort, though badly eroded, is consistent with archaeological interpretations. If this is the case, then the "teardrop" may have once played a significant structural role.
This teardrop-shaped feature runs parallel with the Fort's eastern "wall" and shows intriguing internal shape.
The "teardrop" is a symmetrical feature similar to others found in Cydonia, although not necessarily of the same scale. It appears to have a central spine or wall (see photo above).
This rectilinear "tear" on the Face's cheek appears unsually structural, as opposed to the featureless chunks attributed to erosion.
Most small features in Cydonia are amorphic and random, fully consistent with natural erosion. The "teardrop" reveals puzzling detail.
The second (elevated) "teardrop" feature.
Most interestingly, the "teardrop" next to the Fort is overlooked by a very similar bisymmetric teardrop-shaped feature on top of the eastern platform. This second feature is aligned with the exact center of the ground-level "teardrop" and is positioned precisely ninety degrees from its somewhat larger counterpart. Like its counterpart, it exhibits a curious central "spine."
If both of these streamlined features are the product of wind erosion, then this perpendicular placement is most unusual. Right angles are rare in nature. The discovery of two essentially identical formations existing in virtually the same place -- at right angles to one another -- is decidedly anomalous.
5-18-01
Triangular "Perforation" Next to Cydonia Octagon
Equilateral triangle next to the octagonal feature in Cydonia. Image courtesy Chris Joseph.
Stereoscopic view of apparent "Octagon" and "Triangle." Image courtesy Chris Joseph.
5-19-01
NASA Responds to FACETS Request
NASA's Edward J. Weiler, Associate Administrator for Space Science, has replied to the Formal Action Committee for Extraterrestrial Studies' (FACETS) request for release of forthcoming Cydonia data with the following letter, originally sent to lawyer Peter Gersten of Citizens Against UFO Secrecy.
Disturbingly, Weiler cites a "stereo" image of Cydonia which simply doesn't exist in the public domain. Weiler's apparent ignorance of Arthur C. Clarke's much-publicized statements about extant macroscopic lifeforms is perhaps even more difficult to interpret.
Faced with the potential for public embarrassment, Malin Space Science Systems might feel compelled to release future data in a more forthright manner.
Mr. Gersten:
In response to your letter to NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin dated March 16, 2001, from the Formal Action Committee for Extra-Terrestrial Studies (FACETS), NASA has fully and openly distributed by means of public web-sites all images obtained of the Cydonia 'face' feature under question. To date, more than 90,000 images of Mars have been acquired by the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC), as well as hundreds of millions of laser altimeter topographic measurements and infrared spectra. None of the images acquired to date by the MGS/MOC system have been withheld and indeed, several recently (April 8, 2001) acquired images, including stereoscopic coverage of the Cydonia feature under question, have been released via multiple public web sites. In this case, NASA responded to the request by FACETS (presented in the letter by Peter Gersten to Mr. Goldin on March 16, 2001) by initiating a complex set of MGS spacecraft operations to ensure that the highest possible resolution images of the Cydonia 'face' feature were acquired. These spacecraft operations require special care and only a few can be performed each day. In addition to 1.5 m per pixel (about 5 foot resolution) resolution images of the Cydonia feature, NASA released a stereo 'anaglyph' of the feature that allows a viewer with colored 3D glasses to view the feature in 3D. This is the first release of a 3D image of any features on Mars acquired in this resolution. Furthermore, NASA has assembled public web site access of ALL MGS images acquired of the Cydonia Face feature since the start of MGS scientific observations. Given the challenges of imaging any feature on Mars (ie., NASA has yet to find the second Viking Lander specifically), this has involved considerable effort.
The newly released Cydonia observations reveal an intriguing mesa-like feature not unlike those found in the Southwestern USA, with geologic features than can be attributed to processes in multiple places on Mars in which isolated topographic features (remnants) have been observed. NASA encourages the development of multiple working hypothesis models for the formation of such features and in this case the new observations have been publicly released to permit further debate about controversial and enigmatic landforms on Mars. Dr. Michael Malin, the Principal Investigator of the MGS Mars Orbiter Camera, has provided his experienced interpretation of the new images, but NASA welcomes additional opinions. Indeed, NASA promotes innovative analysis of such spacecraft data by competitive peer-review, as well as via open discussion in public meetings and by all members of the interested-public.
In the letter to Mr. Goldin by the members of FACETS, there are statements that are not consistent with published (and hence peer-reviewed) results from scientific literature. NASA does not know of any statements by Sir Arthur C. Clarke that suggest "pretty convincing proof of the existence of large forms of like on Mars," nor are there any in the extant, peer-reviewed literature. NASA favors exploring the Universe for evidence of biological processes and aspects of the newly restructured Mars Exploration Program support a variety of approaches for searching for evidence of biological processes on Mars.
NASA has responded to the requests of the FACETS group in exactly the fashion requested in the March 16 letter, by targeting the Cydonia feature under question will (sic) the highest possible resolution, and most optimized illumination, as well as in stereo, to make available observations to the general public in a responsive manner. These data are released and available for interpretation by the FACETS members. They were so recently acquired from the MGS that there may have appeared to have been a delay in their release, but this was not the case. When an image is acquired at Mars it must be relayed to Earth via a specific process and then reconstructed on the ground before it can be posted on a public web site. This was accomplished at the end of last week (by April 19), and the data released on that date.
Thus on the basis of the requests made in the March 16 letter addressed to Mr. Goldin by Peter Gersten, the following items have been met or exceeded as follows:
(1) all images of the Cydonia area have been released on the internet (via http://www.msss.com and other public NASA sites via JPL)
(2) stereoscopic, full resolution (1.5 m/pixel) MOC images were acquired at optimized illumination conditions of the Cydonia features and have been released via the internet
(3) NASA awaits a specific list of requests for targeting the five additional areas of Mars from a list submitted by FACETS, but no such list has yet been received.
NASA welcomes a variety of opinions about the origin of the enigmatic features on Mars as observed by the instruments aboard the Mars Global Surveyor. NASA relies upon the peer-review process and competitive peer review to fund analysis of the data it acquires and awaits newly published (or proposals to undertake such) interpretations of the Cydonia ěfaceî feature. At present the Scientific advisory committees that formally advise NASA have not interpreted the Cydonia feature as evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. NASA will continue to explore all possibilities for the origin of landscapes on Mars using the open process it has traditionally utilized, as well as by timely release of all images acquired by operational spacecraft, including the MGS.
NASA thanks the members of FACETS for their continuing interest in the Cydonia region and welcomes additional comments.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Weiler
Associate Administrator for Space Science
Enclosure
Announcement of Third Cydonia Observation
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/target/update4-20.html
Lan Fleming's Analysis of Both Mars Global Surveyor "Face" Images
A must-read: www.vgl.org/webfiles/mars/face/01-2001/new-images.html
5-20-01
"Teardrop" Formations in Cydonia: Similar Morphology
Feature 1
Feature 2
Feature 3
Features 1 and 2, described on this page, are located next to and on top of the Fort, respectively, while Feature 3 can be found next to the "Main City Mound," a domed formation below the "City Pyramid." The central "spine" evident in all three features, plus the high degree of bisymmetry and similar size suggest a common artificial origin. (For illustrative purposes, images are not shown to exact scale.)
The Main City Mound, located at the far eastern end of the "City" complex. Note teardrop-shaped feature.
For more work on anomalous Cydonian formations, read Robert Harrison's latest article at Cydonia Quest.
5-23-01
NASA to Address "Face" at Press Conference 5-24-01
NASA is going to hold an official press conference on the "Face" tomorrow, following the legal efforts of FACETS. NASA's letter to FACETS (Formal Action Committee for Extraterrestrial Studies) included the fascinating revelation that additional, apparently unreleased photos of the Face have been taken that may help settle the issue of geology vs. artificiality (see above).
I personally suspect that NASA will use the conference to officially retract this statement as part of an embarrassed "damage control" effort or else take another stab at "scotching this thing for good."
The conference will be the first time NASA has publicly addressed the Face since 1976, when it erroneously attributed it to a "trick of lighting." Let's hope we're not in for a high-tech replay.
