Complicated science, political buffoonery, social injustice, terrible jokes — keeping up with the fate of our planet is an overwhelming endeavor. That’s why today (in fact, right now) you should take a break from all that noise to remind yourself what exactly it is that we’re trying to save.
For inspiration, check out this time-lapse of the Earth that filmmaker Phil Selmes put together using footage taken from the International Space Station (ISS). Selmes has made time-lapses with ISS footage before, but this is the first time he’s used a tracking shot — the seamless one-shot filmmaking trick that we all now know about thanks to Birdman — and the results are pretty breathtaking.
So put whatever you’re doing on hold (come on, it’ll only take a few minutes), throw on some headphones, and go full screen. If you get little choked up watching this, know that you’re not alone.
Last October, Selmes told Universe Today what attracted him to ISS footage:
I didn’t see politics, races, borders, countries, religions or differences […]. I saw one planet, one world, one incredibly beautiful miracle in the absolute vastness of the universe. It gave me some perspective, ironically it brought me ‘back to earth.’
Come on, team. It’s time to save that big beautiful orb.
