The so-called “remote viewing” of the Mars Face refers to a controversial experiment in which individuals claimed to use extrasensory perception to observe the famous Cydonia region of Mars, including what appeared to be a face-like formation seen in NASA photos. In the early 1980s, as part of Project Star Gate, the U.S. government explored whether remote viewers could describe features on Mars that were not visible to the naked eye or accessible by conventional means.

The transcript from a 1984 CIA-backed session describes visions of ancient landscapes, structures resembling pyramids, and even impressions of beings that some interpreted as Martian life. These reports are often cited by enthusiasts of both psychic phenomena and Mars mysteries, fueling debates about the boundaries between science and speculation.

The intersection of government-backed psychic research and one of Mars's most intriguing formations continues to fascinate those interested in mysteries beyond Earth. This topic remains a touchpoint for discussions on remote viewing, Mars exploration, and the limits of human perception.

Overview of the Mars Face Phenomenon

The Face on Mars raised international attention and debate after its first appearance in images over four decades ago. Since the discovery, it has become a focal point of scientific investigation, public speculation, and multiple theories about Mars and its surface features.

Discovery in the Cydonia Region

NASA's Viking 1 orbiter photographed the Martian surface in 1976, capturing images of the Cydonia region. One particular photo showed a mesa that resembled a human face, measuring about 2 kilometers long. This feature, later dubbed the "Face on Mars," stood out due to its shadow patterns and striking symmetries.

The image quickly became the subject of interest for both NASA researchers and the public. The resemblance to a face was viewed by some as a potential artificial structure. Further photographs from other missions, including Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, offered higher-resolution images, which revealed the formation’s more natural, eroded characteristics.

Significance in Mars Exploration

The face-like formation in Cydonia spurred scientific and public interest in exploring Mars more closely. It contributed to discussions around possible past life or civilizations on Mars, leading to further targeted imaging and analysis of the Cydonia region. NASA prioritized follow-up observations in later missions to clarify the nature of the formation.

Research teams used advanced imaging tools to gather more data on the region's geology. These efforts revealed that lighting, resolution, and viewing angles influenced the face-like appearance. The attention given to the "Face on Mars" also increased public curiosity and engagement with Mars exploration missions.

Theories Surrounding the Face on Mars

Theories about the Face on Mars fall into two main categories: natural geological processes and artificial structure hypotheses. Scientists generally attribute the formation to wind erosion, impact events, and Martian weathering. Comparative analysis of similar features elsewhere on Mars supports these natural explanations.

However, some researchers and enthusiasts suggest that the face could be evidence of ancient extraterrestrial activity or civilization. This idea is part of broader speculation about other unusual formations in Cydonia. No credible scientific evidence supports artificial origins, but the debate has influenced popular culture and the direction of some fringe research.

Summary Table: Major Theories of the Face on Mars

Theory Type Main Argument Support Natural Geological Process Formed by erosion and natural landforms Strong Artificial Structure Built or modified by intelligent beings Minimal

Remote Viewing and Project Stargate

The investigation of psychic abilities like remote viewing attracted interest from both scientists and intelligence agencies. Key programs, people, and documents detail how organizations like the CIA sought to evaluate and use these reported phenomena.

Origins of Remote Viewing

Remote viewing emerged in the early 1970s, largely through work by physicist Russell Targ and laser scientist Harold Puthoff at SRI International. They defined remote viewing as the ability of individuals to describe or “see” distant or unseen targets.

Research involved both controlled laboratory experiments and informal testing. A few participants consistently reported details that matched actual targets. Notable early remote viewers included Ingo Swann and Pat Price, whose sessions attracted attention within certain government circles.

Interest in remote viewing grew as some results appeared statistically significant. This led to funded studies by agencies interested in unconventional intelligence gathering.

Role of the CIA and Declassified Documents

The CIA began funding remote viewing research in the early 1970s due to perceived potential for national security. Initial funding supported SRI and continued with the Defense Intelligence Agency and other branches after the CIA scaled back its involvement.

Declassified documents now available through government archives show a mix of interest and skepticism from officials. Reports detail experiments where remote viewers described physical objects or locations, sometimes relating to foreign military sites.

These documents provide records of project goals, taskings, and assessments. Some transcripts, such as the well-known 1984 Mars session, illustrate both the methods and limits of what was claimed at the time.

Project Stargate and Its Objectives

Project Stargate was the umbrella name for several military and intelligence programs that evaluated remote viewing as an intelligence tool. It formally began in the late 1970s and involved structured protocols for testing psychic abilities.

The project's main objectives were to assess if remote viewers could provide actionable intelligence or information. Tasks ranged from describing hidden objects to attempting to view foreign facilities or past events.

The Stargate program continued for nearly two decades, involving multiple remote viewers, managers, and analysts. In the 1990s, official reviews found mixed results, ultimately leading to the program’s termination and the release of declassified materials.

The “Remote Viewing” Sessions Targeting Mars

Several documented remote viewing sessions have aimed to explore Mars, focusing especially on locations such as the so-called "Face on Mars." These sessions involved skilled remote viewers tasked with describing specific Martian sites and phenomena, often under controlled experimental conditions.

Key Sessions Conducted by Remote Viewers

In the early 1980s, the Central Intelligence Agency sponsored remote viewing experiments targeting Mars. These experiments were part of Project Star Gate, a U.S. military program researching paranormal phenomena like remote viewing.

A significant session was conducted on May 22, 1984, where a viewer was instructed to observe Mars at a time approximately one million years ago. The viewer, whose identity was classified, reported perceptions of vast structures, pyramids, and unusual monuments, including references to large humanoid figures and catastrophic environmental changes. This session was notable for its focus on iconic features such as the Cydonia region and the alleged "Face on Mars."

Other sessions by trained remote viewers were less specific, sometimes describing the Martian surface as barren or reporting elements like wind and dust storms. The consistency seen across different sessions added to the intrigue, though scientific skepticism persisted.

Ingo Swann and Joe McMoneagle’s Findings

Ingo Swann and Joe McMoneagle, both considered pioneers in the remote viewing field, contributed significantly to Mars-related sessions. Swann, in his work, claimed to perceive features on Mars such as unusual energy sources, waterways, and artificial structures, years before some of these details were noted by NASA probes.

Joe McMoneagle carried out sessions focusing on Mars that paralleled Swann’s, describing pyramidal structures, elevated platforms, and artificial-looking formations in line with the Cydonia region. According to declassified CIA transcripts, McMoneagle reported impressions of a dying civilization and monumental remains.

A summary table of core findings:

Viewer Key Findings Dates Ingo Swann Energy sources, waterways, structures 1970s-1980s Joe McMoneagle Pyramids, “Face,” dying civilization 1984 session

These findings contributed to ongoing debates about the validity and meaning of remote viewing data on Mars.

Coordinates and Approach to Mars Remote Viewing

Accessing the so-called "Face on Mars" through remote viewing requires careful preparation. Specifying coordinates and following structured psychic techniques are central to the documented methodologies.

Selection of Mars Coordinates

Remote viewing experiments directed at Mars often start with precise coordinates. In notable cases, such as the 1984 CIA session, participants were given sets of numerical values representing locations believed to contain anomalous features, including the "Face on Mars."

Scientists and researchers provide these coordinates based on imaging from Mars orbiters or probes. The coordinates typically represent latitude and longitude, identifying specific surface features.

Taskers—those who design the sessions—do not disclose the target to the viewers. Instead, they give blind or double-blind numbers associated with specific sites, removing bias and expectation. This process is used to maintain objectivity and reduce contamination of psychic impressions.

Psychic Practice and Methodology

Psychic remote viewers use structured protocols intended to distance the conscious mind from interfering with impressions. Techniques include relaxation, focus on the assigned target number, and recording any emerging sensations, visuals, or thoughts.

The process prioritizes controlled environments and standardized steps. For example, some methodologies involve timed sessions, repeated measurements, and independent analysis of recorded data.

Remote viewers claim to access information about past events, surface features, or structures—such as the "Face on Mars"—without prior knowledge of the chosen coordinate. The emphasis is on minimizing analytical overlay, ensuring the impressions relate directly to the assigned target and not the psychic’s expectations.

Interpretation of Remote Viewing Data

Analyses of remote viewing transcripts reveal specific descriptions of physical structures and the presence of purported ancient civilizations on Mars. Key data includes references to features resembling pyramids as well as impressions of beings associated with those structures.

Descriptions of Structures and Pyramids

Remote viewing accounts from the declassified CIA "Mars Exploration" project frequently mention large, geometric formations. Several viewers described structures interpreted as pyramids, noting triangular or angular outlines that stood apart from the natural Martian landscape. These forms were sometimes positioned in a patterned arrangement, suggesting intentional placement.

Descriptions also referenced the so-called "Face on Mars," a surface formation in the Cydonia region that some believe resembles a human-like visage. The following table summarizes the main features noted by viewers:

Feature Description Pyramids Triangular, sizable Arrangement Pattern, alignment Face on Mars Human-like, sculpted Adjacency Proximity of structures

No physical evidence confirms these perceptions, but the consistency among independent remote viewers is commonly highlighted within reports.

Depictions of Ancient Civilizations

Some transcripts included impressions of an ancient civilization inhabiting Mars during the era referenced in the remote viewing. Details included a race described as tall and thin, living in or near the supposed pyramidal structures. These beings were characterized as advanced yet facing a catastrophic environmental decline.

Observers recorded emotional impressions such as a sense of desperation or longing among these Martian beings. Lists of activities or objects seen in the sessions included:

Shelters and dwellings that integrated into terrain
Artifacts or tools whose functions were undetermined
Group gatherings or communal activity

While remote viewers claimed to detect both the remnants of a civilization and their collapse, these details were drawn from subjective impressions without corroborating archaeological evidence.

Controversies and Skepticism

Public interest in the "remote viewing" of the Mars Face has led to widespread debate among scientists and researchers. Evaluations by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have played a critical role in shaping the discussion.

Scientific Community’s Response

The scientific community has consistently expressed skepticism about remote viewing as a legitimate investigative method. Multiple controlled studies have not found statistically significant evidence that remote viewing achieves results better than chance.

Researchers highlight the lack of consistent methodology and reproducibility in remote viewing experiments involving Mars. Many scientists classify remote viewing in the same category as other pseudoscientific practices, such as astrology.

Skeptics often refer to peer-reviewed analysis that fails to support claims of psychic phenomena. Organizations such as the American Association for the Advancement of Science and various skeptical groups urge caution in interpreting remote viewing outcomes without factual support.

Analysis by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory have directly examined the "Face on Mars" through high-resolution imaging and soil analysis. Using data from missions such as Viking, Mars Global Surveyor, and later orbiters, their analysis shows the formation is a natural mesa shaped by erosion.

Scientists from JPL point out that features resembling eyes and a mouth are due to shadows, viewing angles, and Martian soil patterns, not artificial construction. Geological studies suggest that gas pockets and natural erosion contributed to the structure's appearance.

No findings from NASA or JPL support the claim that the "Face" has artificial origins. Their reports and images are publicly available, providing concrete data that counters speculative interpretations.

Remote Viewing Claims about Life and Civilization on Mars

Remote viewing experiments have produced a variety of claims regarding life and ancient civilizations on Mars. Some descriptions reference not only ancient ruins and environmental features but also the presence of unusual beings and advanced societies that supposedly once thrived on the planet.

Remote Viewing Accounts of Life on Mars

A number of remote viewers reported impressions of large artificial structures on Mars, including “pyramids” and ruined cities. Some sessions describe scenes of an ancient Martian civilization, which was technologically advanced but in decline or destroyed.

Multiple viewers depicted populations trying to survive in harsh conditions. Remote viewers sometimes claimed to communicate with beings from Mars, occasionally describing them as hiding or in a form of hibernation beneath the surface, attempting to escape environmental catastrophe.

Certain reports suggest links between these Martian beings and concepts like reincarnation, with accounts claiming the consciousness of ancient Martians was preserved in some way. However, these claims lack direct scientific validation and remain speculative.

Vegetation and Martian Environment

Remote viewing sessions have referenced the presence of plant life or vegetation on ancient Mars. Some descriptions included impressions of marshy areas, scattered greenery, or remnants of forests, despite the arid and cold conditions seen on Mars today.

Statements about the Martian atmosphere often highlight extreme changes from the past to the present. Remote viewers noted signs of catastrophic environmental shifts, such as sudden climate change that led to widespread desertification and the abandonment of surface habitats.

Descriptions of the Martian environment sometimes include details of water sources, lakes, or rivers in ancient times. These accounts contrast with scientific findings, which have yet to confirm any current vegetation on Mars.

Reports of Giants and Ancient People

Several remote viewers reported encountering giant beings or "ancient people" while exploring visions of Martian history. These entities were often described as tall, thin, and possessing distinct physical features not found in humans.

Some accounts portray the giants as survivors of a lost civilization, struggling to maintain their culture amid environmental collapse. The beings are sometimes depicted as builders of large structures, such as pyramids or megalithic monuments.

These reports often claim that the ancient Martians sought shelter underground or attempted to preserve their existence through advanced technology or mental abilities like hibernation or storing consciousness. The existence of such giants has not been confirmed by mainstream science.

Cultural and Historical Impacts

Remote viewing of the Mars Face has shaped not only public perception of Mars but also inspired new links between extraterrestrial mysteries and Earth's own ancient wonders. Its influence extends from science fiction to renewed interest in ancient architecture and culture.

Influence on Modern Theories and Media

The remote viewing experiments connected to the Mars Face, including those commissioned by agencies like the CIA, have ignited contemporary debates about consciousness and perception. Television shows, movies, and books quickly picked up on these remote viewing narratives, embedding the concept of a mysterious face or structure on Mars into pop culture.

Many documentaries and fictional stories use the Mars Face to support alternative theories about life beyond Earth. Some theorists suggest that the face and nearby formations resemble pyramids, fueling speculation about intelligent design. This ongoing discourse often leads to renewed discussion on the role of intuition, psychic ability, and non-traditional methods in scientific discovery.

Connections to Earth’s Ancient Sites and Cairo

Interest in the Mars Face has often paralleled fascination with Earth's ancient monuments, particularly the pyramids near Cairo. Comparisons between the Martian formations and the Giza pyramids are common in popular literature and online forums.

A table of similarities commonly cited includes:

Feature Mars Face Area Giza Plateau (Cairo) Monumental Structures Yes Yes (pyramids, Sphinx) Geometric Alignment Claimed Yes (pyramids alignment) Mystery & Theories Abundant Abundant

Some remote viewing transcripts describe pyramid-like shapes on Mars and speculate about cultural or knowledge transfer between ancient Martian and Egyptian civilizations. While mainstream archaeology finds no evidence for direct contact, these theories persist, blending Martian remote viewing claims with the enduring allure of Egyptian mysteries.

The Remote Viewing of the Mars Face Exploring Claims and Scientific Perspectives