The cosmic triangle is proposed as a way of interpreting the past, present, and future status of the universe. Our current location within the cosmic triangle is defined by the answers to three questions: How much matter is in the universe? Is the expansion rate slowing down or speeding up? And, is the universe flat? A review of recent observations implies a lightweight universe, is expanding and is flat. The expansion indicates the presence of cosmic dark energy that overwhelms the gravitational self-attraction of matter and causes the expansion to speed up.