This handy full-color hardback is the perfect introduction to cosmology, astronomy and astrophysics, written by one of NASA's leading astronomers and educator, Sten Odenwald. Filled with helpful charts, suggestions for further reading and easily digestible history sections, this book makes it easier than ever to understand the workings of the universe. Featuring the most important ideas in the field, including the Theory of Relativity, the Standard Model, Loop Quantum Gravity, and Supersymmetry, it covers the whole breadth of cosmology. It will help you answer questions such as: • How do we know the universe is expanding? • What is the theory of relativity? • How can we categorize galaxies? • What is dark matter? This book provides you with the essential foundations for understanding the science behind the universe we live in.