Abstract

Almost all of the extrasolar planets identified to date have only been indirectly detected based on some effect they have on their host star’s light.  However, we now have direct images of a number of massive gaseous exoplanets at wide orbital separations.  This collection of directly imaged exoplanets is already providing valuable atmospheric characterization, especially with new observatories such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).  Exoplanet direct imaging with JWST is allowing us to address some of the most fundamental questions in exoplanetary science, such as the degree to which we can link our measurements of the atmospheric compositions of exoplanets with their formation history. JWST is also likely to help us gain a much more complete picture of the overall demographics of exoplanets, especially at wide orbital separations.  I will also discuss how the Gaia mission is already starting to point the way to numerous more such exoplanets suitable for direct imaging.  Characterization of these self-luminous planets will enlighten their earliest thermal histories, still the greatest source of uncertainty for theoretical models of planet formation.  Lastly, I will discuss upcoming observations in the next decades which should have the capability to directly observe and characterize Earth-like planets in the habitable zones of their host stars, with the goal of detecting biosignatures.