The Overview Effect: Astronauts Discuss the Profound Experience of Seeing Earth From Space

February 24, 2013

The Overview Effect, first described by author Frank White in 1987, is an experience that transforms astronauts’ perspective of the planet and mankind’s place upon it. Common features of the experience are a feeling of awe for the planet, a profound understanding of the interconnection of all life, and a renewed sense of responsibility for taking care of the environment.

Though it’s about 15 minutes long, this video is very much worth your time. It’s a pretty great thing to listen to astronauts talk about how this unique view changed them, and how it changed the way we humans look at ourselves, our planet.

It’s a trite thing to say “We’re all together” or “We’re all one,” but it doesn’t make that statement any less true.

Overview is a short film by Planetary Collective. They are currently working on a feature-length documentary entitled Continuum.

[via Liam]