In my unending quest to find a massive optical illusion to rival the famed Face of Mars , we may have ultimately observe a winner . lady and gentleman’s gentleman , fit the Elephant of Mars , as spotted by NASA ’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter .
In case this fond aspect of the volcanic crater does n’t convince you of its giant nature , you’re able to check out the full image below , which was taken by the orbiter ’s HiRISE camera to begin with this month . University of Arizona planetary scientist Alfred McEwen has a nice explanation of what the Elephant of Mars actually is over at the HiRISE website :
This is a safe instance of the phenomena “ pareidolia , ” where we see thing ( such as animals ) that are n’t really there . Actually , this image covers the margin of a lava flow in Elysium Planitia , the youngest flood - lava province on Mars . torrent lavas cover extensive areas , and were once think to be emplaced exceedingly speedily , like a flood of pee .
Most lava floods on Earth are emplace over years to decades , and this is probably rightful for much of the lava on Mars as well . An elephant can take the air away from the slowly boost flow front . However , there is also grounds for much more rapidly flowing lava on Mars , a true flood of lava . In this instance , mayhap this elephant could n’t run forth fast enough .
The elephant does n’t have quite the same eerie , otherworldly quality ofthe Face of Mars – apart from the fact that both are quite literally on other worlds , of class . But the one affair it ’s got go bad for it is that it still look like an elephant ’s head – consummate with correctly positioned eye ! – even at these gamy resolution . The Face , on the other hand , expect way less impressive and face - like if you really see it up close , whichthe HiRISE camera actually dida few years back .
ViaHiRISE .
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