Final answer:
Astronomy could see significant advances in the next 100 years, fueled by telescopes like the LSST, which will enhance our knowledge of galaxy formation and may even detect extraterrestrial life.
Handling the immense data from these observatories presents challenges that may be solved with machine learning and advanced computing. Discoveries may also include understanding the acceleration of the universe's expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The field of astronomy has been consistently ripe with discoveries, and the next 100 years promise to be no exception. With the advent of giant telescopes like the 8.4-meter Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), currently under construction in Chile, we anticipate a breadth of astronomical discoveries.
These discoveries may range from detailed observations of distant galaxies that could reveal insights into galaxy formation and evolution, to the potential detection of signs of life on exoplanets through the analysis of their atmospheres.
One of the challenges with these next-generation telescopes is the management of the massive data they will produce, up to 30 terabytes per night. Solutions to these challenges might include the development of advanced machine learning algorithms and distributed computing systems to handle, analyze, and store this influx of astronomical data efficiently.
The large datasets could unveil transients like supernovae, detect new asteroids and Kuiper belt objects in our solar system, and potentially offer the first evidence of extraterrestrial life.
Meanwhile, advancements in technology might also solve the current puzzle of why the universe's expansion rate is accelerating, an area where our understanding today is limited. Thus, we are poised to not only refine our present models of the cosmos but also to possibly uncover new principles that govern the universe's ultimate fate.