The overview effect is a cognitive and emotional shift that some astronauts report experiencing when they view the Earth from space, seeing it as a whole, fragile system rather than as a collection of separate places and nations. The writer and space researcher Frank White coined the term in the 1980s after interviewing astronauts about their experiences, describing the shift as often including a strong appreciation for the Earth's beauty, an unexpected surge of emotion, and a heightened sense of connection to other people and to the planet as a whole. For some astronauts, the experience has led to lasting changes in their values and life priorities, including a deeper commitment to environmental causes.
Facts
Partially Attested
First Described YearWikipedia states this is the first public use of the term rather than an explicit statement of when the phenomenon itself was first described; White's book on the subject followed in 1987. Core ClaimViewing Earth from space produces a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities in some astronauts, often triggered by a particularly striking visual stimulus. 1 Classification
Type of Phenomenon Sources
1. Overview effect, Wikipedia
Characteristics section
a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities, precipitated by a particularly striking visual stimulus.
History section
The first public use of the term was in a poster at a Space Studies Institute meeting in 1985.
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