A Hill on Mars Resembles a Bear
There is a hill on Mars that startlingly resembles a bear. Two craters make up the eyes of the ‘bear’ and a collapsed V-shaped area seems to form the nose. Of course, this is only an optical illusion, but it is one that is incredibly well perceived.
Imaginations and Mars!
The photograph of this bear-like hill was captured by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter towards the end of 2022. This is not the first instance of astronomers noticing familiar shapes and objects on the red planet. In the past, scientists have reported discovering formations resembling a human face, trees, a figure of Gandhi, a mysterious door, and earlier this year an avocado was added to the list.
Pareidolia – Seeing Things That Aren’t There
It isn’t at all uncommon for us humans to see something recognizable in mountains, craters, and other scenes on Mars. It’s a phenomenon we encounter in our daily lives. This psychological phenomenon is known as pareidolia. Other fascinating examples of pareidolia include seeing animals in clouds or spotting a face in the froth of your latte macchiato.
Why Do We See These Faces and Objects?
You may wonder, why do we see these faces and objects? Our brains are wired with a strong desire to draw connections or associations between things we encounter. This proves to be beneficial in recognizing shapes that could potentially indicate danger, such as the silhouette of a predator. However, there are times when our brains may get a little carried too far, interpreting connections or patterns that do not actually exist.
