The Ultraview Effect

NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for Monday, March 16th. It will now take place Saturday, March 14th. Astronauts are returning to earth with a profound shift in their understanding of the universe. Join The Explorers Club on March 14th to hear about this fascinating phenomenon at the intersection of psychology, anthropology, and spaceflight. The ultraview effect refers to a pattern observed when ordinary ways of understanding the universe collapse. While many astronauts describe the well-known overview effect when viewing Earth from space, some others report a very different experience when they turn outward toward the stars. Looking into deep space from space may produce a profound sense of disorientation, cognitive overload, or uncertainty in the face of vastness. Cultural anthropologist Deana Weibel draws on years of multi-sited fieldwork with astronauts, engineers, astronomers, and space medicine specialists to trace this recurring pattern. These encounters with the unknow