| Thursday's Universe | ||
| A Report from the Frontier on the Origin, Nature, and Destiny of the Universe |
| Hardcover published by Times Books/Random House, 1986 |
| Softcover published by Tempus Books/Microsoft Press, 1988 |
| New York Times Notable Science Book |
| An Astronomy Book of the Year, Astronomical Society of the Pacific |
With Thursday's Universe, Marcia Bartusiak takes you on a tantalizing journey to the frontiers of astronomy and astrophysics. She explores the very latest ideas about the moment of creation; the birth and death of stars, quasars, and galaxies; the structure of black holes; the puzzles of the universe's missing mass; and the still-unanswered questions about the cosmos. In the course of these explanations, she introduces the brilliant astronomers, astrophysicists, and researchers behind today's theories. Her travels took her from a giant computer-controlled observatory in the desert of New Mexico to a tiny radio dish atop a Manhattan high-rise. Based on interviews with dozens of the leading figures in astronomy, Thursday's Universe outlines the great breakthroughs of the past and then lays out the cosmic agenda of tomorrow. |
| Critical Response | ||
| "Authoritative...lucid...an insider's perspective on the discipline...Readers who puzzle over the latest news from out there but don't know quite where it all fits in will welcome Thursday's Universe." |
| The New York Times Book Review |
| Bartusiak's "enthusiasm for the subject [is] infectious." |
| The Washington Times |
| "Masterful...In spinning her fascinating tale, Bartusiak captures not only the celestial elegance of the universe, but also the intellectual elegance of those who ponder it." |
| Air & Space |
| "Bartusiak charts the evolution of our knowledge of the universe, from the birth of stars out of dust and gases to the ultimate questions of origin and destiny....Highly recommended." |
| Popular Science |
| "Unquestionably the book to have if you want to catch up on what's been happening in astronomy the last few years...solid, entertaining, and informative." |
| Astronomy |
| "Marcia Bartusiak has set herself a formidable task: to encompass all major recent developments in astronomy and cosmology. She succeeds rather well." |
| Sky & Telescope |
| "Bartusiak demonstrates a competence and graceful style that make this one of the more enjoyable armchair astronomy chronicles." |
| Kirkus Reviews |