Astronaut Talks About Life-Changing View of Earth from Space
big picture: looking at an entire situation or system, instead of only focusing on small details.
Ron Garan, a former astronaut, talks about his time in space and the powerful feeling of seeing Earth from above. This feeling called the “overview effect,” shows us how connected we all are.
A famous photo called “Earthrise” was taken 50 years ago from space. It changed the way we see the world. It helped people see that we are all part of one big system.
Ron thinks the “overview effect” can push us to solve global problems. We don’t need to go to space for this. Instead, he says we need to look at the big picture of planet Earth while still focusing on our individual humanity. He practices this daily. He says, “I wake up every morning in my bed, but I also wake up on a planet.” Watch the video below to learn more about his big-picture way of seeing the world.
Sample sentences
1. To understand climate change, we need to look at the big picture of how our actions impact the environment.
2. Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in small problems, but remembering the big picture can help us stay focused on our goals.
3. When making decisions, considering the big picture can help us choose the best path for the future.