The Overview Effect: Awe and It’s Lifelong Impact

Imagine being so far above the Earth that you see it in entirety. Odds are unless you’re an astronaut you’ve experienced this view as I have through photos from the Apollo missions of the 60’s and 70’s (ex. Earthrise) or through more recent images taken aboard the Space Shuttle & International Space Station. For those lucky enough to experience this view first hand it is understandably life changing. Author Frank White termed this impact the “Overview Effect“. The Planetary Collective put together 19 minute short documentary interviewing numerous astronauts describing this effect and its impact on their lives. I highly recommend checking it out. After viewing it I am incredibly grateful that I haven’t had to fly into space to understand and appreciate the interconnectivity we all share and the fragility of our floating island in space we call home. It’s that core aspect of the “Overview Effect” that keeps me focused on highlighting the special quality of our home in my nature and landscape work.

OVERVIEW from Planetary Collective on Vimeo.

Also note if you missed it the other week NASA released a high resolution image of the Earth at night, the Black Marble. The light sensitivity of the image was great enough to see a single boat in the ocean. Amazing to see.