2007-08-31 14:48:58 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The large dark areas on the Moon are called lunar maria. They are large plains caused by volcanic flooding.
Visualizing a man's face is a psychological phenomenon called pareidolia. It is a form of apophenia. The mind attempts to form images (particularly faces) from random images or patterns of light and shade. It may stem from our ability to recognize human faces in low light or at a distance. Other cultures see other things in the Moon such as a woman's head, a hare, a rabbit, a frog, a moose, or a buffalo.
The image is reversed in the southern hemisphere. They also may picture a face.
http://www.netaxs.com/mhmyers/dnunder.html
2007-08-31 14:52:59 · answer #1 · answered by Troasa 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I see a rabbit. But some people (cultures) see a witch, some see a 3-legged toad, and a friend of mine sees an astronaut feeding a poodle! (Take a look at a good photograph of the moon - the astronaut is on the left, kneeling down and feeding the poodle on the right).
Like someone else above me said, the human brain is programmed to see shapes and patterns, just like you can see objects in clouds, or play connect-the-dots with stars in the sky.
The dark areas on the Moon are called Maria, they are ancient impact craters that were filled in by lava when the Moon was still partially molten.
2007-08-31 22:25:27 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Much the same reason people see animals and people and other familiar objects in shapes the stars seem to make in the sky.
Humans need to create patterns from random shapes, so the darker maria and lighter mountain regions of the full moon "appear" to many people as a human face.
Personally, I don't see a face in the full moon.
2007-08-31 22:03:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Odd as it may seem, humans are biologically programmed to look for human faces everywhere. Not only have people seen a face on the moon, but also on Mars.
2007-08-31 21:54:08 · answer #4 · answered by Joan H 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's just crater formations. You know....in China...they see a rabbit in the moon. The "eyes" of the man are the ears, and form the head....and it goes down from there.
2007-08-31 21:56:45 · answer #5 · answered by Helen Scott 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is due to human imagination. Just like some rocks or clouds can sometimes look like a face.
2007-08-31 21:56:06 · answer #6 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've looked and looked, but I've never been able to see the face so many people seem to. Maybe it is a lack of imagination n my part.
2007-08-31 22:07:02 · answer #7 · answered by Chance20_m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be the mirror they placed up there
2007-08-31 22:13:19 · answer #8 · answered by Andrew 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not, it's just peoples imagination.
2007-09-03 13:04:51 · answer #9 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋