Posted on Feb 1, 2026

APOD: 2026 February 1 – Galle: Happy Face Crater on Mars

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Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the February 1, 2026 edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).

First featured here in 1999, this image of Crater Galle (aka the Happy Face Crater) was captured by NASA's Martian Global Surveyor (MGS). Viking 1 took this first photographs in 1976. And it does resemble the smiling/winking emoji used online in lighter moments.

This impact formation is named after Johann Gottfried Galle, a German astronomer who first observed the planet Neptune on September 23, 1846. How big is Crater Galle? Over 140 miles in diameter.

APOD: 2026 February 1 – Galle: Happy Face Crater on Mars

Posted from apod.nasa.gov

Posted in these groups: NASA The milky way galaxy

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Edited 10 d ago

Posted 10 d ago

Responses: 7

SGT Kevin Hughes

Posted 10 d ago

The world's first emoji. Glad it was a smiley face.

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Maj Robert Thornton

Posted 10 d ago

I want to see a “Kilroy Was Here” on one of the planets or moons.

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Maj William W. 'Bill' Price

10 d

Maj Robert Thornton This may be the best we can do for now...
https://kilroyonmars.com/116/introduction/198/hiding-in-plain-sight

Hiding in Plain Sight - KilroyOnMars.com

Take a moment to examine the photograph above. What do you see? Take your time, be patient and focus on what's leaning against the big rock just left of center. For scale, the boulder above is roughly one meter in diameter. Take a moment to examine the photograph above. What do you see? Take you...

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