Daily Overview: Fascinating satellite photographs of Earth show man's impact on the planet

A series of fascinating satellite photos aims to show how man has affected Earth. Daily Overview publishes one image of an area where human activity has shaped the landscape – for better or worse – every day.

The site derives its name from an idea known as the Overview Effect, the sensation astronauts experience when given the opportunity to look down and view Earth from space. 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.

Check out the trailer for our feature film PLANETARY: https://vimeo.com/60234866 For more info about PLANETARY (formerly CONTINUUM) and how you can support & pre-order the film, check out: http://www.weareplanetary.com. Full website coming soon. On the 40th anniversary of the famous ‘Blue Marble’ photograph taken of Earth from space, Planetary Collective presents a short film documenting astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – a perspective-altering experience often described as the Overview Effect. 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. ‘Overview’ is a short film that explores this phenomenon through interviews with five astronauts who have experienced the Overview Effect. The film also features insights from commentators and thinkers on the wider implications and importance of this understanding for society, and our relationship to the environment. CAST • EDGAR MITCHELL – Apollo 14 astronaut and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences • RON GARAN – ISS astronaut and founder of humanitarian organization Fragile Oasis • NICOLE STOTT – Shuttle and ISS astronaut and member of Fragile Oasis • JEFF HOFFMAN – Shuttle astronaut and senior lecturer at MIT • SHANE KIMBROUGH – Shuttle/ISS astronaut and Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army • FRANK WHITE – space theorist and author of the book ‘The Overview Effect’ • DAVID LOY- philosopher and author • DAVID BEAVER – philosopher and co-founder of The Overview Institute ———- CREW Producer: STEVE KENNEDY Director: GUY REID Editor: STEVE KENNEDY Director of Photography: CHRISTOPHER FERSTAD Original Score: HUMAN SUITS Dubbing Mixer: PATCH MORRISON ———- TECHNICAL INFORMATION Filmed with Canon 5D Mk ii. Additional footage from NASA / ESA archives Duration: 19 minutes ———- Planetary Collective: http://www.planetarycollective.com/ Overview Microsite: http://www.overviewthemovie.com/ Human Suits (original score): http://www.humansuits.com/ For more information: The Overview Institute: http://www.overviewinstitute.org/ Fragile Oasis: http://www.fragileoasis.org/

From the Earth's surface, it is almost impossible to fully appreciate the splendour and intricacy of the things we have constructed, the sheer complexity of the systems we have developed, or the devastating impact that we have had on our planet. But these impacts are clearly seen from the perspective of space.

The site's owners say they hope viewers will be fascinated by photos of the Earth from this perspective but they also hope people will go beyond the aesthetics to contemplate what they are seeing and consider what that means for our planet.

IBTimesUK presents some of Daily Overview's most popular images. For more, visit Daily Overview or follow it on Instagram or Facebook.

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