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SCP-1278-RU
General diagram of SCP-1278-A, 1910s.
Special Containment Procedures: The Foundation has spread a legend about the unsuitability of SCP-1278 lenses for quality optics; discovered specimens are confiscated under suitable pretenses. Any publicly available information about SCP-1278-A is monitored and refuted.
The Foundation's observatories maintain constant surveillance of SCP-1278-A to quickly detect any potential contacts of the object with Earth.
Description: SCP-1278 is a specific standard of optical lenses that allows observation of the SCP-1278-A phenomenon (see Document 1278-1).
SCP-1278-A manifests when the surface of Mars is observed through a telescope equipped with at least one lens matching the parameters of SCP-1278, and represents visible evidence of intelligent life on and near the surface of planet. The manifestation occurs gradually with increasing duration of visual contact (see Addendum 1). Despite this, complete certainty about whether SCP-1278-A is a genuine representation of some processes on the surface of the planet, concealed from ordinary observation by some anomaly, or merely an illusory manifestation generated by some anomalous effect on the observer's mind, cannot be achieved. The lack of confirmed contacts between any Earth-launched craft and SCP-1278-A entities supports second hypothesis.
History of discovery: Phenomenon known as SCP-1278-A was first discovered by Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli during the Great Mars Opposition in 1877. For a number of reasons, discoverer was unable to observe the phenomenon in sufficient detail, and subsequent observations turned out to be contradictory, giving rise to a significant amount of speculation and fantastical theories, which facilitated concealment of object. Key factor in manifestation of SCP-1278-A was only established in 1960s: a lens of a certain type, designated as SCP-1278, after which the special containment procedures were implemented. «Mariner-9» mission (1971-1972), designed with this discovery in mind, allowed the non-existence of SCP-1278-A to be established as scientific fact.
Addendum 1: Approximate observation phases SCP-1278-A
1. «Channels»: manifestations on the surface of Mars of dark streaks and areas resembling bodies of water, as well as stripes of a different shade along their edges, resembling vegetation.
2. «Lights»: stationary and moving sources of light are observed on the planet's surface, with the highest density along the borders of «bodies of water».
3. «Domes»: the appearance on the surface of dome-shaped structures, often associated with stationary «lights», as well as a number of other structures with regular shapes.
4. «Phobos»: the corresponding moon of Mars is observed as a structure that appears to have artificial origins. A number of other glowing objects are visible in orbit around Mars, some of which leave the planet's orbit. «Devices» have been observed twice heading towards the inner region of the Solar System.
Addendum 2:
AE-1278-1
Description of the phenomenon: When shooting or observing through the lens of the digital camera model [REDACTED], some domestic cats appear as animals of unknown species and origin, exhibiting a brown color with dark and light stripes, small leathery horns on their heads resembling those of giraffe-like creatures, as well as six grasping limbs. This anomaly is consistently observed across different cameras of this model.
Date, time and place of the event: First mentioned on the [REDACTED] forum in March 2013.
Note: After the detection of a match between the lenses used in this camera model and SCP-1278, information about this phenomenon was added to the object's documentation. The model has been recalled under the guise of a technical malfunction, the animals were observed, revealing only two common unusual featuresj:
1) Most of the anomalous cats were picked up by their owners on the street;
2) Anomalous cats do not show any noticeable interest and do not mate with non-anomalous cats.
No apparent connection to SCP-1278-A has been identified at this time. Research continues.