proposed that the overview effect can be understood in terms of awe and self-transcendence, which they describe as 'among the deepest and most powerful aspects of the human experience'. (2016) state that the most prominent common aspects of the astronauts' experience were appreciation and perception of beauty, unexpected and even overwhelming emotion, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. Characteristics Īstronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson 'Earth gazing' in the Cupola module of the International Space Station, a practice found to have positive psychological effects, one that is especially important in coping with the demands of spaceflight īroadly, Yaden et al. With recognition of the cost and environmental pollution involved in actual space travel, immersive virtual reality simulations have been designed to try to induce the overview effect in earthbound participants. The effect can cause changes in the observer’s self concept and value system, and can be transformative. The most prominent common aspects of personally experiencing the Earth from space are appreciation and perception of beauty, unexpected and even overwhelming emotion, and an increased sense of connection to other people and the Earth as a whole. Researchers have characterized the effect as 'a state of awe with self-transcendent qualities, precipitated by a particularly striking visual stimulus'. The overview effect is a cognitive shift reported by some astronauts while viewing the Earth from space. Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders recalled, 'When I looked up and saw the Earth coming up on this very stark, beat-up Moon horizon, I was immediately almost overcome with the thought, 'Here we came all this way to the Moon, and yet the most significant thing we’re seeing is our own home planet, the Earth.''

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