Mars photos: Difference between revisions
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==Specific examples== | ==Specific examples== | ||
===Algeria=== | |||
[[File:Mars algeria.png|thumb|Algeria]] | |||
This meme suggests a photo of the Algerian desert was claimed to have been taken by [[Wikipedia:Ingenuity (helicopter)|Ingenuity]]. | |||
The original photo seems (from the title) to have been taken near [[Wikipedia:Djanet|Djanet]], a city in southeast Algeria. The metadata shows it was taken by photographer Gregory Rohart with a Canon EOS 40D.<ref>[https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36EV96B Photo from Algeria does not prove that 'NASA's Mars missions were faked]</ref> | |||
The source of the manipulated image is not known, but evidently someone edited the original by removing the people, adding an image of a rover and helicopter,<ref group=note>I thought the photo was supposed to be taken BY the helicopter...</ref> and adding the caption. | |||
===Devon Island #1=== | ===Devon Island #1=== | ||
[[File:Devon island.jpeg|thumb|Devon Island #1]] | [[File:Devon island.jpeg|thumb|"Devon Island" #1]] | ||
There are multiple examples involving [[Wikipedia:Devon Island|Devon Island]], Canada. It is the world's largest uninhabited island, and in this regard it is very Mars-like. In fact, NASA has an [[Wikipedia:Haughton–Mars Project|actual research facility]] there where they test and develop technologies that are potentially Mars-bound. | There are multiple examples involving [[Wikipedia:Devon Island|Devon Island]], Canada. It is the world's largest uninhabited island, and in this regard it is very Mars-like. In fact, NASA has an [[Wikipedia:Haughton–Mars Project|actual research facility]] there where they test and develop technologies that are potentially Mars-bound. | ||
The original photo is the the first colour image from NASA's [[Wikipedia:Viking 2|Viking 2]] lander, taken on September 5, 1976.<ref>[https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia00568-first-color-image-of-the-viking-lander-2-site/ "First Color Image of the Viking Lander 2 Site" Jet Propulsion Laboratory]</ref> The [[Wikipedia:Viking program|Viking program]] involved NASA's first missions to land a payload on Mars' surface. | The original photo is the the first colour image from NASA's [[Wikipedia:Viking 2|Viking 2]] lander, taken on September 5, 1976.<ref>[https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia00568-first-color-image-of-the-viking-lander-2-site/ "First Color Image of the Viking Lander 2 Site" Jet Propulsion Laboratory]</ref> The [[Wikipedia:Viking program|Viking program]] involved NASA's first missions to land a payload on Mars' surface. | ||
The manipulated photo appears to have originated from [https://ufologie.patrickgross.org/htm/marscol3.htm this website], where the author turns down the red saturation in NASA's photo. The author hypothesises that the photos of Mars from Viking may have been overly red-saturated and not quite in true colour, so they provide the manipulated photo as a possible alternative for what the Martian | The manipulated photo appears to have originated from [https://ufologie.patrickgross.org/htm/marscol3.htm this website], where the author turns down the red saturation in NASA's photo. The author hypothesises that the photos of Mars from Viking may have been overly red-saturated and not quite in true colour, so they provide the manipulated photo as a possible alternative for what the Martian landscape really looks like. | ||
===Greenland=== | |||
[[File:Mars_greenland.webp|thumb|"Greenland"]] | |||
This example, [[Dave Weiss#DITRH Derp#Mars photo|famously pushed by professional grifter David Weiss]], alleges that a photo of "Greenland" was claimed by NASA to be Mars. Weiss has repeatedly claimed the photo on the left is "from NASA's website" (even though it isn't nor ever was). Weiss sometimes says the photo was taken on Devon Island, which is not in Greenland.<sup>''[citation NOT needed]''</sup> | |||
The [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Burren2.jpg original photo] was actually not taken in Greenland nor Devon Island, it was taken in [[Wikipedia:The Burren|The Burren, Ireland]], and is even on the [[Wikipedia:Geology of Ireland#Timeline#Mesozoic|Geology of Ireland Wikipedia page]]. | |||
The | The manipulated photo was created as part of a [https://indavideo.hu/video/NASA_Training_Session_-_Mars_Photography_Workshop_101_Required_Course satirical video] about "how to make a photograph for Mars". The manipulated photo also includes a rover part taken from [https://solarviews.com/cap/mars/PIA05049.htm this panorama] (taken by [[Wikipedia:Mars Exploration Rover|MER]]). | ||
[[MCToon]] has [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGOv8593oBc a video] and [https://mctoon.net/flat-earth-lies-mars-photos/ page on his website] covering this particular example in detail. | |||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
Revision as of 08:11, 24 May 2026
Flat Earthers claim that photos taken by NASA's rovers from the surface of Mars are actually photos taken from various locations on Earth which have been deceitfully edited to fool people into thinking space is real.
This claim is propagated on social media through shitty memes[note 1] that usually show two nearly identical photos side by side, with one claimed to be Mars and the other, some location on Earth.[1][2] According to flerfs, this is evidence that NASA is using their multi-billion dollar budget wisely by hiring an amateur photo editor to colour grade existing photos from Earth to look like the Martian surface.
Of course, NASA has never shared a photo taken on Earth and claimed it to be Mars. When flerfs share these memes, they are either lying or too ignorant to check whether the photos were actually published by NASA.
Specific examples
Algeria
This meme suggests a photo of the Algerian desert was claimed to have been taken by Ingenuity.
The original photo seems (from the title) to have been taken near Djanet, a city in southeast Algeria. The metadata shows it was taken by photographer Gregory Rohart with a Canon EOS 40D.[3]
The source of the manipulated image is not known, but evidently someone edited the original by removing the people, adding an image of a rover and helicopter,[note 2] and adding the caption.
Devon Island #1
There are multiple examples involving Devon Island, Canada. It is the world's largest uninhabited island, and in this regard it is very Mars-like. In fact, NASA has an actual research facility there where they test and develop technologies that are potentially Mars-bound.
The original photo is the the first colour image from NASA's Viking 2 lander, taken on September 5, 1976.[4] The Viking program involved NASA's first missions to land a payload on Mars' surface.
The manipulated photo appears to have originated from this website, where the author turns down the red saturation in NASA's photo. The author hypothesises that the photos of Mars from Viking may have been overly red-saturated and not quite in true colour, so they provide the manipulated photo as a possible alternative for what the Martian landscape really looks like.
Greenland
This example, famously pushed by professional grifter David Weiss, alleges that a photo of "Greenland" was claimed by NASA to be Mars. Weiss has repeatedly claimed the photo on the left is "from NASA's website" (even though it isn't nor ever was). Weiss sometimes says the photo was taken on Devon Island, which is not in Greenland.[citation NOT needed]
The original photo was actually not taken in Greenland nor Devon Island, it was taken in The Burren, Ireland, and is even on the Geology of Ireland Wikipedia page.
The manipulated photo was created as part of a satirical video about "how to make a photograph for Mars". The manipulated photo also includes a rover part taken from this panorama (taken by MER).
MCToon has a video and page on his website covering this particular example in detail.