The Mysteries of Mars

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The Face Only A Martian Could Love!

  Many theories and ideas regarding this face have been expounded upon, and the writer certainly doesn't have all the answers. I am including it into this web page simply to inform readers that it exists, and relate some of the thoughts and ideas about it.

The face in the picture is changing (morphing) from the original picture of "The Face" to a picture of the Sphinx in Egypt. There has been seen by some a connection between the two faces. Their basic structures are similar. While the face could be just a natural abortion, caused by erosion, wind, etc, it is thought by many to be a monument built by…..someone or something.

Theories run from Angels building it in eons past, to actual space travelers who visited Mars and Earth, who "seeded" the Earth with human beings, thus disputing the Creation account of the Bible.

Among the hills was one that, to the Viking investigators scrutinizing the images for likely landing sites, resembled a face. Owing to the importance of the landing site search, and with a desire to provide the public with at least one familiar-looking landform amid the craters and exotic terrains found all over Mars, an image including the face-like hill was released as part of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's public relations effort. The text of that release notes the face-like hill.

Subsequent to this release, some people have argued, mostly in the lay literature, that the face-like hill is artificially shaped. Although their argument has been expanded to a host of nearby features, none commands public interest like the "Face." Here are two more views of the Famous "Face On Mars":

The bottom line is, we just don't know for sure what it is. One thing is certain, this type of phenomena along with UFO sightings, abductions and other bazaar things are becoming more commonplace everyday.

Movies and TV shows with themes about "good" aliens, "bad" aliens, (for example: ET; Close Encounters; Independence Day, and others), are becoming more and more popular.  In 2001, The Movie "Mission To Mars" used the Marian Face to preclude the notion that it was created by a race who had to exodus their planet do to some major catatastrophe. The move ended with a "Martian" Holographic image "showing" the crew a picture of millions of ships leaving the planet millions of years in the past. One ship made its way to Earth and "seeded" the planet with human-like beings, presumably, Adam and Eve. This theory of our race being "seeded" by aliens in gaining in popularity. Since the Theory of Evolution is slowly diminishing...more and more scientist are realizing the impossiblity of this theory, the theory of "Panspermia" is gaining in popularity. But the question remains, if the Martians (or some other alien beings) placed us on earth...who created THEM? 

I believe, as do many other evangels...that as the time of Satan's take over approaches; as the Rapture of the Church grows nearer...this idea will gain even more attention. The Bible states that "in the end times, after the Church is caught up to be with the Lord in the air, the remaining humans will made to "Believe THE lie"! What is this lie? We don't know for sure, but it very well could be, that we were planted here by an alien race; they came to "check up" on us; they didn't like the way things were going, so the got rid of the "trouble-makers"; the believers that could see and understand Bible Prophecy.

As time goes on, watch out for more and more events relating to abductions, UFO sightings and the like.

Now, about those UFOs!

UFO sightings began in earnest in 1947, when the world was entering the Atomic Age, and, coincidentally, one year before Israel became a nation. 

It is believed by many scholars that Mars may have been, at one time, much closer to Earth, in a resonant orbit which allowed it to pass-by Earth as close as 70,000 miles in Biblical Times. It is known that ancient Biblical people, idol worshipers, not only worshipped the Sun, Moon and planets, namely Mars, but they were terrified of Mars. We don't give the planet a second thought today, but there is evidence that in Biblical days, it affected their lives in some way.

Mysteries of Mars: Some Facts!

The planet Mars is the 4th major planet from the Sun, and has captured the imagination of many cultures since the beginning of time. It is believed by many scholars that the Baal of the Old Testament was another name for Mars. (2 Kings 23:5 5) 

Why did ancient cultures fear and worship Mars? Why was there so much interest in its movements? Why were zodiacs, sundials, planet temples, astrology, etc so much in use? One possible answer, is that it intervened in their lives.

 If Mars and Earth were, in fact, in an orbital pattern that was much different than today, as is suspected by some scientist, they would have passed very close by at certain times of the year. By using a computer model of such passes, it is thought these "pass-bys" occurred every 54 years or a multiple thereof.

Case 1: Spring intersection

March 21/22: If mars passes inside Earth's orbit, after perihelion it passes ahead of Earth, Mars would lose energy, it's orbit is shortened, while Earth gains energy, and its orbit is lengthened.

Fall Intersection, Oct. 25

If Mars passes outside, from aphelion, it passes behind Earth, Mars gains energy, Earth loses energy.

Effects of near pass-bys:

* Crustal tides of up to 85 feet if Mars is 70,000 miles from earth. A normal crustal tide that is caused by the moon is two to three inches.

* Ancient cities such as Troy, etc, have been rebuilt 7 times from their own rubble.

* Mars would appear in the sky 50 times the size of moon.

* The change in days per year would equal 5 days, 5 hours, 49 minutes. (If Earth's orbit were to be shortened)

* The change in Earth's axis: 23 1/2 degrees, Mars' axis would shift 24 degrees.

* There would be magnetic field reversals

* Meteors and Bolides, (Exploding meteors) would be experienced.

* Earth "turned upside down" Isa. 24:1

* "Removed exceedingly": Isa 24:19

* "Reeled like a drunkard": Isa 24:20

Were these prophetic statements by Isaiah, or was he an eye-witness to these events?

* The Polar Ice cap would be relocated by 300 miles. Jerusalem’s latitude would be off by 5 degrees.

THE LONG DAY OF JOSHUA

One-third of a million men met at Beth Horon. If Mars was on a fly-by at about 70,000 miles, it probably would pass over the North Pole. The day would be lengthened by two to four hours. A five degree shift would occur at the poles. The latitude would be changed by 5 degrees. Bolides and meteors would appear two to three hours later, arriving at about 30,000 mph.

Oct. 25, 1404 B. C. Early morning Mars rises 50 times the size of moon, Earthquakes, bolides, meteors for 2-3 hours.

 CANALS

After the invention of the telescope, many features on Mars' surface created controversy. Italian astronomer/Statesman Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli observed about 100 canali (channels).A misunderstanding of the report caused many to interpret as this as "canals".

U.S. astronomer Percival Lowell believed the markings were bands of vegetation bordering ditches dug by beings for irrigation from the polar caps.

 ORSON WELLS

In 1938 Orson Wells and the Mercury Players produced a radio program based on H. G. Well’s War of the Worlds". It was a simulated news broadcast announcing an attack on New Jersey from Martians. Thousands didn’t realize that it was a dramatization; thousands were panic-stricken, and some even committed suicide.

LIFE DISCOVERED?

Recent press release from NASA

Aug. 6, 1996

Headquarters, Wash. DC

Release 96-159

STATEMENT FROM DANIEL S. GOLDIN, NASA ADMINISTRATOR

NASA has made a startling discovery that points to the possibility that a primitive form of microscopic life may have existed on Mars more than three billion years ago. The research is based on a sophisticated examination of an ancient Martian meteorite that landed on Earth some 13,000 years ago.

The evidence is exciting, even compelling, but not conclusive. It is a discovery that demands further scientific investigation. NASA is ready to assist the process of rigorous scientific investigation and lively scientific debate that will follow this discovery.

I want everyone to understand that we are not talking about "little green men." These are extremely small, single-cell structures that somewhat resemble bacteria on Earth. There is no evidence or suggestion that any higher life form ever existed on Mars.

The NASA scientists and researchers who made this discovery will be available at a news conference tomorrow to discuss their findings. They will outline the step-by-step "detective story" that explains how the meteorite arrived here form Mars, and how they set about looking for evidence of long-ago life in this ancient rock. They will also release some fascinating images documenting their research.

The facts

Nine researchers from five institutions, led by NASA researcher David S. McKay of Johnson Space Center, published a study that claimed evidence for life on Mars. They released the report before it was due because news of it had leaked out.

They argued that the best explanation of 3 different minerals, an organic residue, and bacteria-like structures found in the meteorite, which was found in Antarctica is reported to have been blasted from Mars. This, they have decided, is evidence of ancient life on Mars.

You must understand that the scientist were working with slice 1/500^th the thickness of hair in diameter. Laser Analyzers helped detect organic chemicals called PAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the rock.

(When living material degrades, it leaves behind PAHs. Common in the universe and not always linked to living material. "They are found all over the place on Earth", said Robert Clayton, Prof. of chemistry at University of Chicago".

Conclusions assume PAHs were indigenous to the meteorite instead of some kind of Earthly contamination. PAH's are formed on Earth by the degradation of living organisms, but also can be produced by power plants and auto engines.)

While there is some justification for viewing PAHs are from the meteorite, there are many explanations for their presence that do not require the presence of life.

Meteoriticist John Keffidge of UCLA points out that, "Decomposition could certainly produce (PAHs) but there are dozens of other mechanisms for making PAHs. They could have formed from simpler compounds on Mars which never evolved chemically to living organisms."

 PREVIOUS EMBARRASSMENT

Meteoriticists have been fooled before. In the ‘60’s, some researchers reported a meteorite had yielded organic matter that appeared to have been biologically produced, along with microscopic "organized elements" presumably fossils of life that produced organic matter. After testing, it turned out to be nothing more than Earthly contamination including degraded ragweed pollen.

NASA researchers also reported golden-colored particles in the rock that contained chemical and organic features suggesting bacteria-sized organisms living on Mars 5.6 billion years ago. Researches also found tiny sausage-shaped particles McKay interpreted as fossilized microbes because they resembled ancient bacteria found on Earth rocks.

(The largest of these structures less than 1/100th diameter of human hair. Said to be smaller than any known life forms or fossil life forms on Earth. at 20 to 100 nanometers (One Billionth of a meter....) in length, objects are 100 times smaller than smallest microfossils of ancient bacteria ever found. Smaller even than the HIV virus, which is 110 nanometers.)

Kenneth Nealson, of University of Wisconsin, whose work on bacterial carbonate precipitation is cited by McKay, notes that warm fluids circulating through the Martian crust might have deposited the same sequence of minerals without any help from organisms.

SKEPTICISM CONTINUES

Tests began last year on the 4 1/2 pound potato-sized meteorite. It contained pyrite samples which contain two sulfur isotopes, sulfur-32 and sulfur-34, whose ratio changes on Earth in the presence of Biological activity. "There was no evidence that it was in a ratio for life forms." In fact the ratio points in the opposite direction. (From: "Researchers cast doubt on Mars Study" CNN Scitech, Aug. 8, 1996).

Carl Sagan himself has pointed out "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". This fact seems lacking in these disclosures.

WHERE IT CAME FROM

The rock was found in Antarctica in 1984. It weighs 1.9 kilograms, is soft-ball sized, and was designated ALH84001. It had no study or scrutiny for 10 years. (from Science, Aug. 14, 1987): Some meteorites that have fallen to Earth are believed to be chunks of the moon and Mars, that have been blasted into space by large impacts.

There are a few examples of meteorites discovered on Earth which match the composition of rocks on Mars. It is believed by some that these were ejected to escape velocity by large impact on Mars and in time landed on Earth. However, many scientists find this theory highly improbable. Mars has evidence of extremely large impacts, 92% are in same hemisphere.

Initially, the rock was believed to be from the asteroid belt. In 1994, David Mittlefehldt of Lockheed Martin in Houston found subtle similarities to "known (?)" Martian meteorites.

"Radiometric dating suggests ALH84001 to have congealed from magma to become part of the original Martian crust 4.5 Billion years ago, just 100 million years after the planet formed, making it the oldest rock known from any planet. Still early in Martian history, a meteorite impact shattered the rock, leaving fractures where minerals - including the putative traces of life - formed, perhaps 3.6 billion years ago. Much later, another impact launched the rock into space, where radioactive nuclei created by deep-space radiation show that it wandered for 16 million years before breaking through the Earth’s atmosphere and crashing into the Antarctic ice cap. There it lay buried for 13,000 years until scientists found it on wind-scoured ice in the Allan Hills region of Antarctica."

 HOW DO WE KNOW IT WAS FROM MARS?

NASA reports that concentrations of Xenon, Krypton, Neon, Argon-36, Argon-40, Nitrogen, & CO2 gas trapped in the interior of meteorite almost exactly matches the values obtained by the Viking Lander. Even NASA makes the following speculation:

Similar collisions of steroids or comets with Earth could have blasted terrestrial rocks into escaping orbits that eventually carried them to Mars. Some of these rocks could have been large enough to shield any dormant spores or microbes inside them for millions of years against the sterilizing effects of solar and cosmic radiation. Some of the rocks could have broken apart when they landed on mars. This leads to an intriguing speculation: A few million years ago, when Mars still had water on its surface, could the planet have been "seeded" by organism carried in meteorites from Earth?

 Early 1st of century, Swedish physicist & chemist Svante August Arrhenius (1859-1927) showed photon (light wave) pressure from Sun would carry bacterial spores from Earth’s upper atmosphere to outer planets, but it would take years or even centuries. Some spores are extremely hardy and could survive space. Also, solar wind (particles from the Sun), which Arrhenius wasn’t even aware existed, would be more efficient at transporting spores than photons alone.

The major flaw with this theory is that meteorites pickup organic debris, even small spores in the stratosphere, as they enter the atmosphere. These molten meteorites would preserve many such particles as they cool. Secondly, solar wind has the potential to carry organic debris from Earth to Mars because it is "downwind." It is estimated that 2 tons of material is transferred each day between planets.

A RESPONSE

What are assumptions involved in claiming that this find is evidence of life on Mars?

1-It assumes the rock is actually from Mars. its composition suggests this possibility, but cannot be proven.

2-The assumption is made that when the object left Mars, organic compounds and "fossil structures" were present inside. This cannot be proven.

3-It is assumed structures and chemicals found are actual fossils of microbial life and have no other origin from nonliving processes. Scientists have stated that both the organic compounds and the iron compounds found could have other natural origins.

We are justified in being skeptical about claims of evidence for extraterrestrial life. Chemical and physical conditions on Mars are self-sterilizing.

 Cynics have suggested the desperate need for public funds may be an additional motivation behind the current promotions. The Mars press release was quickly followed up with a report that there is water on Jupiter’s satellite Europa. NASA is planning a series of missions to Mars (Dec. 1996) and may be attempting to exploit this to generate public interest to get more funding. We must understand the great desire on part of scientific establishment to promote evolution, to convince people that life can evolve elsewhere and therefor "we are not alone" in the universe.

But the fact is, we have never been alone in the universe because we were "created by and infinite transcendent God" who has made us to know Him in a personal way. We look to Christ and the Word for answers.

The "Rocks from Mars" excitement has died down considerably by the time this article was updated (October, 2001). We haven't heard too much more about these "proofs o life on Mars" recently.  But be aware of more such "discoveries" in the future. Two unmanned ships have mysteriously "dissapeared" or have lost contact with Earth while on there way or arriving at...Mars. Only time will tell.

OTHER MYSTERIES

Most of us have been taught planets came out of the Sun at creation. There are serious difficulties with this idea.

James Jeans (1877-1946) pointed out that the outer planets are far larger than the inner ones. Jupiter is 5,750 times as massive as Mercury, 2,958 times as massive as Mars, etc. Other observations seem to suggest additional clues to our planetary history:

1-There are three pairs of rapid spin rates among our planets. Mars and Earth, Jupiter and Saturn, and Neptune and Uranus, are each within 3% of each other. Why?

2-Earth and Mars have almost identical axis tilts, about 23.5%. Why?

3-Why does Mars have 93% of its craters in one hemisphere and only 7% in the other? It appears that over 80% occurred within a single half-hour!

 The Sun is shrinking in diameter at a rate of 1/2 inch per hour. What does that imply about the age of the solar system?

CATASTROPHISM VIEWS

Most writers dealing with origin of universe/solar system tend to be either uniformitarian in their thinking. (clinging to assumption that all things have remained essentially unchanged over billions of years), as are typical astronomers, or they tend to be creationists (assuming that it all was called into existence suddenly.)

There are other views not inconsistent with Biblical record.

There is evidence that the solar system has had a series of catastrophic events, and some view the many craters and other evidences on planets, including Earth and moon, as indications of extensive and turbulent history. (Immanuel Veilkovsky, Worlds in Collision)

 Earth accumulates about 100 tons of extraterrestrial material every day. Most meteoroids enter the atmosphere and burn up. Some survive entry and are slowed down by air friction to speed of about 200 miles per hour, they then hit the ground as a meteorite.

The atmosphere protects us from smaller asteroids. However, if they are larger than 50 meters (half the size of football field), they possess about 10 megatons of energy, comparable to larger warheads. These are expected about once per century. In fact, in 1972, Earth narrowly missed a 10-megaton impact.

There are over 100 craters on earth. Some up to 80 miles in diameter. If wasn’t for constant reworking of surface by erosion and plate tectonics, Earth would have as many craters as the moon.

Oct. 1992, The news media broke the news that the planet was in danger of being hit by a comet, (Swift-Tuttle). Supplemental observations revealed no collision is likely for centuries, at least until 8 more orbits completed.

Swift-Tutee passes near Earth about every 130 years, each time a little closer. It is very large and travels at 125,000 MPH.

 On Jan. 23, 1982, an asteroid almost 1/3mile in diameter passed within 2.5 million miles of Earth without being detected. In fact, it was discovered a month later. (Discover, May 1984)

March 22, 1989, We had even a closer near miss by 6 hours, 400,000 miles. (Le Nouvel Observateur, July 1991)

On June 30th, 1908, an asteroid hit Tunguska in central Siberia, devastating more than 2,000 sq. km of forest. The region is so remote, however, that it wasn’t explored until 17 years later. If it had been comet, it would probably have exploded at a higher altitude and done no damage. Had it been composed of more dense iron, It would have reached the ground making a large crater. It apparently was a rocky asteroid, about the size of an office building. It decelerated and exploded at an altitude of 5 miles. Last year, scientists found tiny fragments imbedded in tree resin at the impact site.

The meteor crater near Winslow, Arizona was formed by just such a metallic meteorite, with the same 15 megaton energy as Tunguska. Estimated impacts like this happen about once every 300 years on Earth's surface; and about once every 1000 years on land.

Even small or medium sized asteroids result in substantial long term impacts. A tsunamis (tidal wave) from a Tunguska-sized object produces widespread destruction and can devastate continental coastlines. A 1 KM wide asteroid or comet would do more damage than all the nuclear weapons combined. If one landed in southern California, all of L.A. would be vaporized, as well as several miles of rock from Earth’s crust. Both Honolulu and New York City would be shaken flat by seismic waves. (Duncan Steel, Rogue Asteroids and Doomsday Comets, 1995).

Of the 160 asteroids with Earth-crossing paths, about one-half are over 1 KM across. Some scientists attribute the extinction of pre-historic life to cosmic collisions of the past. C. C. Albritton, Catastrophic Episodes in Earth History, 1989).

In 1991, the discovery of a crater, Chicxulub, under Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula is thought to have resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs. It's size has been estimated to have been over 6 miles in diameter. Energy of this asteroid has been estimated at over 100 million megatons or 5 billion Hiroshima sized A-bombs.

Polar instability, which have moved thousands of miles in past and numerous magnetic reversals may have been triggered by such collisions.

 MORE MYSTERIES OF MARS

* Mars shows evidence of once having a global flood. Is it possible there was a connection with flood of Noah?

* Was there a connection with the dousing of water from God when  Elijah competed against the priests of Baal  on Mt. Carmel's  altars in 864 B. C.?

* What happened when Joshua prayed the Sun and Moon to "stand still"?

* Why did builders of early Rome, 8th century B. C., build temples to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn within 50 years of Rome’s founding?

WORSHIP OF ANCIENTS?

In our space-age times, the planets are interesting but not consequential.

* The meteorite in the Ka’aba in Mecca appeared 2000 years before Muhammad.

* The word "Cairo" comes from the Arabic for Mars....Site of the Great Pyramid.

CALENDAR BACKGROUND

Ancient calendars were all changed after 701 B. C., Chaldeans, Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks, Phoenicians, Chinese, Mayan, Hindus, Carthaginians, Etruscans, Teutons. Before this time, all known calendars were based on a 360 day year. Why was there a need to change them at all? Did something happen to greatly disrupt the rotation speed of the Earth, thus changing the number of days in the year?

In 364 B. C. Rome changed its first month from March to January as the beginning of the new year.

In England, March was the first month of the year until 1752

The Anglo-Saxons describe March as "Lencten-monath, (lengthened month", or "Lent").

Scotland replaced March with January in 1599 A. D.

France changed in 1564 by Charles IX.

Many ancient people, Celts, Druids, etc, used October 31 as their year end. Eve of Samhain’ is related to the worship of Baal (Mars) and Ashtoreth (Venus). This may have dated from the Tower of Babel catastrophe, around 1944 B. C.

1000 years later, the conquest of the Teutonic tribes leaves us still with days of week named:

Sunday - Sun-daeg (Sun’s day)

Monday - Moon-daeg (Moon’s day)

Tuesday - Tiwes-daeg (Mar’s day)

Wednesday - Odens-daeg (Mercury’s day)

Thursday - Thors-daeg (Jupiter’s day)

Friday - Freyia-daeg (Venus’ day)

Saturday - Saturn’s day

 FOUNDING OF ROME

Rome was founded by Romulus around 750 B. C. Just after the "Joel-Amos catastrophe, of Oct. 25, 756 BC after the destruction of the leading Etruscan city, Volsinium. Why was it founded 15 miles up stream from the coast on the Tiber river. One possible answer was the anticipation of 200 foot tidal waves every 108 years.

The second King of Rome, Numa Pompilius reorganized the Roman calendar after 701 B. C., adding 5 days per year.

Hezekiah adds a month 7 times every 19 years, on 3,6,8,11,14,17, and 19th years. Why?

As stated earlier, most of the original calendars were based on a 360 day year.

Changes occurring:

* India, Veda text uses 360 day year

* Persia, 7th Century, 5 days added.

* Chaldea: 360 day years, also creator of 360 degrees to circle, 60 minutes to an hour, 60 seconds/minute, etc.

* Assyria used 360 day calendar, a decade equaled 3600 days.

* Egypt used 12, 30 day months, 5 days added in 701 BC

Much of the mysteries will remain mysteries until the Lord Jesus Comes to explain all things. There are many more such mysteries in the universe. The Bible is full of mysteries about which we are just now finding answers.

Don't be taken by surprise when, as time goes on, more and more "Cosmic Connections"  take place. It is believed by many that the Anti-christ will boast of an alien connection of some kind. This has been stated by such prophecy teachers as Hal Lindsey, Chuck Missler, Dave Hunt and others. While many of the ideas and theories are speculative, it is said that when the Anti-christ appears, those that are left after the Rapture will believe "the lie", and it is the belief by many that we are being led into that line of thinking.

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