Textbook in PDF format

The traditional textbook, bound to the physical limits of the printed page, cannot illustrate the full complexity, movement, and beauty of the cosmos. In 2012, NASA granted astronomer Lynn Cominsky a multi-year grant with a mandate to develop an interactive experience that could better capture the dynamic nature of the universe. Dr. Cominsky was joined by like-minded astronomers and practicing educators Kim Coble, Kevin McLin, Anne Metevier, Carolyn Peruta, and Janelle Bailey. This collaboration built the fully digital publication the Big Ideas in Cosmology. The development process began with extensive research and vigorous peer review, to ensure the quality of the content and the level of instruction. Field testing was conducted at Sonoma State University to evaluate the effectiveness of the publication’s methods and pedagogy, which revealed high levels of engagement and comprehension for science and non-science majors alike.
Review of Mathematics
Size and Scope
Light
Telescopes
Moving Through Space
Moving Through Time
Measuring Cosmic Distances
Classical Physics - Gravity and Energy
Dark Matter
Special Relativity
General Relativity
Black Holes
Gravitational Lenses
The Expansion of the Universe
The Growth of Structure
The Cosmic Microwave Background
The Early Universe
Dark Energy and the Fate of the Universe
Knowls
Index
Glossary
Detailed Licensing
Resources: Formulae, Constants, and Conversions