The book by the well-known American astrophysicist Joseph Silk tells about the development and the current state of cosmology. The problems of the origin and structure of the surrounding world have interested people for a long time. But only today, with scientists equipped with the results of the newest astronomical discoveries, has it become possible to construct a scientifically grounded—though not final—theory of the evolution of the Universe. The book is intended for a wide range of readers interested in the issues of modern natural science.