Future Forecast What can we expect in astronomy news between now and 2050? We directly image surfaces of Earth-like planets orbiting Suntype stars We've arranged astronomers' predictions into a rough timeline, with probability rankings and approximate fulfillment dates. Many are safe bets; a few aren't. Things become more uncertain after 2030. Science Editor Camille M. Carlisle and editorial intern Dragonfly helicopter arrives at Titan Lauren Sgro pestered dozens of astronomers to amass this list. Art Director Terri Dubé reined everything in. Close-ups of Europa reveal potential connections between subsurface ocean and surface, spurs sample lander planning Sources of high-energy neutrinos identified We measure the acceleration of cosmic expansion in real time Possible Highly likely (Almost) certain Spacecraft enters orbit around Uranus 2036 2037 2038 2039 2040 2041 2042 2043 2044 2045 2046 2047 2048 2049 2050 Space-based LISA detects gravitational waves from binary supermassive black holes Spacecraft employ nuclear electric propulsion to explore solar system Ground-based detectors measure gravitational waves from binary black holes in the universe's first 500 million years We verify whether some of the fundamental physical constants are really constant or actually vary throughout space and time We determine how the first supermassive black holes formed Earliest supernovae in the universe detected First crewed mission heads to Mars We observe the universe's first quasar (>13.3 billion years ago?) sk yand tele scope .o r g * NOVEMBER 2021 39 EDUARD MUZHEVSKYI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMhttp://www.SHUTTERSTOCK.COM http://skyandtelescope.org