Telescopes on the Moon: The Next Decades - Exploring Space Through Lunar Observatories

Explore the future of astronomy in this Pancharatnam Lecture as Professor Joseph Silk discusses the revolutionary potential of lunar-based telescopes. Discover how the moon's unique environment, particularly its far side's radio-quiet conditions, enables groundbreaking 21 cm interferometry studies of the cosmic dark ages and galaxy formation. Learn about planned far-infrared telescopes in lunar polar craters that will investigate the cosmic microwave background radiation dating back to the Big Bang's earliest months. Examine how upcoming optical and infrared mega-telescopes will advance the search for biosignatures and enable unprecedented high-resolution imaging of habitable zone exoplanets, potentially transforming our understanding of the cosmos and our place within it.