Pancharatnam Lecture

This talk will review the prospects for future progress in astronomy. The lunar surface allows a unique way forward in cosmology, to go beyond current limits. The far side provides a unique radio-quiet environment for probing the dark ages via 21 cm interferometry to seek elusive clues on the nature of the infinitesimal fluctuations that seeded galaxy formation. Far-infrared telescopes in cold and dark lunar polar craters will probe the cosmic microwave background radiation back to the first months of the Big Bang. Optical and IR mega telescopes will seek biosignatures and perform high-resolution imaging of unprecedented numbers of nearby habitable-zone exoplanets