Charles Liu is a professor of astrophysics at the City University of New York's College of Staten Island and an associate with the Hayden Planetarium and Department of Astrophysics at the American Museum of Natural History. His research focuses on colliding galaxies, starburst galaxies, quasars, and the star formation history of the universe. In addition to his research publications, Liu also writes for students and general audiences; including Visible Ink Press' popular The Handy Astronomy Answer Book. For his work with students, he has received the American Institute of Physics Science Writing Award and the Award for Popular Writing on Solar Physics from the American Astronomical Society. Until recently, he served as Education Officer and Trustee of the American Astronomical Society, and he currently serves as president of the Astronomical Society of New York. He earned degrees in astronomy, astrophysics, and physics from Harvard and the University of Arizona, and he held postdoctoral positions at Kitt Peak National Observatory and at Columbia University. He and his wife have a daughter and two sons.