Earthrise

*text is up to date, although pending graphic adjustments

The historic Earthrise photograph was captured by NASA’s Apollo 8 team on Christmas Eve, 1968: the first time humans orbited the moon. This unplanned snapshot brought a new perspective of our planet during a time of warfare and political unrest. American astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders who photographed the shot on their fourth orbit, were the first crew to spend Christmas in space. This view of Earth frames the colorful, blue and green planet in outer space as tiny and fragile in comparison to the moon’s rugged, pale surface. It became one of Life Magazine’s “100 Photographs That Changed the World” and is often credited as the driving force behind the global environmental movement. World-renowned nature photographer Galen Rowell described Earthrise as “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken”.

The first mission to the moon resulted in a photo that came to symbolize environmentalism. Not long after, Earth Day was recognized on April 22, 1970 and later propelled the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Astronaut Anders believes that Earthrise had a clear message for humanity and about its shared home, “This is the only home we have and yet we’re busy shooting at each other, threatening nuclear war, and wearing suicide vests. It amazes me.” Earthrise rose from the Space Race and Cold War era, on a nearly impossible NASA mission that required crew training and launch within four months. By 1968, the United States was losing the race to the moon against the Soviet Union. Earlier that year, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, as was Robert F. Kennedy, and many ongoing anti-war sentiments and protests against the Vietnam War were taking place. However, the positive success of Apollo 8 provided a beacon of hope for Americans.

Many astronauts reported experiencing the “overview effect,” a transformative cognitive shift that occurs after viewing the Earth from space. Coined by space philosopher Frank White in 1987, the effect includes a deeper appreciation for the planet and an increased feeling of interconnection and unity amongst other beings. The popularity of Earthrise gave a glimpse of the overview effect to the masses. While space tourism is increasingly allowing extremely wealthy individuals to space travel, humans do not need to leave Earth to achieve the overview effect. A majority of us will never leave the planet, but you do not have to look too far to witness firsthand the fragility and beauty of Earth. With the climate crisis continuing to wreak havoc on the environment, we are running out of time to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial temperatures before some of its catastrophic effects become irreversible. We are connected by our shared home and it has been calling out to us for help. Another Earthrise moment is not necessary to remind us of our limited time on Earth. Simply existing on this planet is cause for concern and collective care for the tiny blue pearl we call home.

American poet Amanda Gorman’s poem ‘Earthrise’, dedicated to Al Gore for The Climate Reality Project, ends with these uplifting lines:

We relish the view;

We witness its round green and brilliant blue,

Which inspires us to ask deeply, wholly:

What can we do?

Open your eyes.

Know that the future of

this wise planet

Lies right in sight:

Right in all of us. Trust

this earth uprising.

All of us bring light to exciting solutions never tried before

For it is our hope that implores us, at our uncompromising core,

To keep rising up for an earth more than worth fighting for.