Ben Gibbard said, “everything looks perfect from far away.” Taken out into space, this phenomenon is known as the Overview Effect. Space-faring humans frequently report how compelling and life-changing the view back towards home really is when you’re out there, not only because it is the biggest splash of color in an otherwise fairly black-and-white vista, but because you can see how fragile and precious that thin film of biosphere actually is.
“Circling the Earth in my orbital spaceship I marveled at the beauty of our planet. People of the world, let us safeguard and enhance this beauty — not destroy it!”
~Yuri Gagarin, 1st person in space (12 April 1961)
I’ve commented before on how powerful the image of our home planet from space truly is. Recently, the good people at The Planetary Collective produced a 19-minute video discussing the phenomenon. They’re using it to promote a feature-length film called Continuum they are funding through Kickstarter.
Watch the Overview video: it’s a great way to celebrate Yuri’s Night!
P.S. Ekostories did a lovely, thoughtful review of the Overview video – check it out.
Ponderings of a Perplexed Primate 
I didn’t know there was a Yuri night. To think he stated at the height of the cold war with the constant threat of mutually assured destruction. A personal hero.
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Nice quote from Yuri. Thanks for that.
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