Visual Analytics is the science of analytical reasoning supported by interactive visual interfaces. People use visual analytics tools and techniques to synthesize information; derive insight from massive, dynamic, and often conflicting data; detect the expected and discover the unexpected; provide timely, defensible, and understandable assessments; and communicate assessments effectively for action. The issues stimulating this body of research provide a grand challenge in science: turning information overload into the opportunity of the decade. Visual analytics requires interdisciplinary science beyond traditional scientific and information visualization to include statistics, data mining, knowledge and discovery technologies, cognitive science and humancomputer interaction, production and presentation, and more. An important research agenda "Illuminating the Path" provides recommendations for the next generation suite of visual analytics technologies and is available at http://nvac.pnl.gov/agenda.stm .