The structures in our universe have grown from tiny primordial matter fluctuations. The theory of inflation tells us that these primordial seeds were quantum fluctuations generated during a period of exponential expansion of the very early universe. The basic cosmological parameters (expansion rate of the universe, baryon density of the universe, matter density of the universe, geometry of the universe, etc) and the power spectrum of the primordial matter fluctuations together provide a fundamental picture of our universe.
I will discuss three complimentary probes of our universe: (1) the anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background radiation; (2) the large scale distribution of galaxies; (3) the brightness of cosmological standard candles (type Ia supernovae). I will show how the exciting new data coming in a few years will allow the accurate measurement of important cosmological parameters, and a measurement of the primordial power spectrum independent of inflationary models. These results will yield valuable information on physics in the early Universe, and provide clues to the correct inflationary model. Our understanding of the universe will be significantly enhanced in the next decade.