Does the Cydonia Mensae area on Mars offer evidence of an ancient civilization that once inhabited the angry red planet?

For centuries man has looked to Mars and has speculated on the many secrets that the red planet may conceal.  In the early years of astronomy, observers were mystified by the numerous grid-like lines etched on the planet's surface.  As observation techniques and technology improved, it was speculated that these mysterious lines could very well be canals.  Many observers boldly suggested that they were waterways engineered by some intelligent life form.  Given that Mars appeared to be a lifeless planet, many observers speculated that perhaps the canals were built by a long since vanished civilization.  

These beliefs held for a number of years until improved technologies revealed that the lines were most probably carved by the natural effects of erosion.  This in itself was a startling discovery in that it offered the evidence that water exists or did exist on the planet at one time.  Of course water is a key element to supporting life as we presently know it. 

In recent years, the technology for observing the planets has improved dramatically and it is now possible for our space probes to do close "fly-bys" of the planets and take fairly detailed photographs and other scientific measurements of the surface.

In 1976, the NASA Viking probe recorded a number of photographs of Mars that caused a sensation.  The photos of the Cydonia region revealed an anomaly that appears to be a huge (1,500 ft high) face staring out into space.  This image was initially dismissed by NASA as a "trick of the sunlight and shadows," however other photos taken at different angles still reveal what appears to be a face.  In addition to the face image, there are several other strange anomalies that are extremely interesting.  

One of the most interesting is a formation in the shape of a five sided pyramid pointing directly at the face, and arranged a distance of exactly 1/360th of the polar diameter of Mars from the face structure.  The other anomalies in the Cydonia region give the appearance of a ruined, city-like, complex including several other pyramid shapes.  Together, the three areas form a equilateral triangle.

In 1998, NASA re-imaged the Cydonia region with the Mars Global Surveyor.  While the anomalies are still very much present in the photographs, the new images are of a higher resolution offering evidence that these structures may be of natural origins.  

One must consider, however, that hundreds of thousands of years of erosion could certainly obliterate detail.  We have many examples of that effect right here on earth.  After only a few centuries of neglect, we have found vast lost cities in the Yucatan that appear to be nothing more than over grown mounds of earth.  We find ancient cities swallowed up and buried by the Sahara and Gobi Desserts.  (see photo at right of structural erosion examples)

The photos of the Cydonia region of Mars, as remarkable as they are, were taken from a distance of many thousands of miles above the planet's surface.  As exploration technology advances, we'll get closer and closer to discovering the answers to the Cydonia controversy.  Will it be a fascinating geological discovery or will it be a fantastic archeological discovery?  Only time will tell.  What do you think? 

NASA is officially silent concerning the "explanation" of the Cydonia region.
 

The Amazing 2008 Martin Humanoid Photo
 

This astonishing NASA Mars photo was released in January of 2008, and immediately sensationalized by news media around the World.  The photo was taken by NASA's Mars Rover 'Spirit.'  At the time of this photo Spirit was in the fourth Earth-year of it's Mar's mission.



The picture is a panoramic view of an area dubbed by NASA as "Home Plate."   The photo is certainly interesting in its own right. However, a closer look reveals a startling image that appears to be a humanoid figure.  Speculation has circled the globe regarding this humanlike figure and even spawned the notion of a "Martian Big Foot."  The assumption (or at least the sensationalization) is that it is a living organism.  I however, offer that you should look closer.




In my opinion, if it is anything at all, it is a stone statue, much like one you might find buried in the sands of ancient Egypt.






I am also quite intrigued by the strange tracings in the soil in the lower left and right of the photo.  What would have caused those?

Additionally, if you look closely in the upper right, there is a faint geometric outline with aligned stones that are suggestive of a building foundation.  Could this be additional evidence of an earlier civilization on Mars uncovered in a recent dust storm? 

Officially, NASA has no comments regarding this or any anomaly that may (or may not be) in the photo.

What do you think?