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Podcaster: Mel Blake

Title: Celestial Couples, the Binary Stars

Organization: UNA Planetarium

Links: : http://www.una.edu/planetarium
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/UNA-Planetarium-and-Observatory/222205024255
@unaplanetarium

Description: Like people, stars like to pair up, and in fact most stars occur in pairs called binary stars. Much of what we know about the masses and sizes of stars comes from studying these pairs. Jut like people, you can also often have odd couples , with normal and exotic stars paired up for interesting combinations. they can even lead to celestial fireworks. One thing is true for all binary stars is that they are held together by mutual attraction, just like the happy couples on Valentine’s Day.

Bio: Dr. Mel Blake. I am from Newfoundland, Canada. I received a PhD from York University is Toronto, Canada and I am currently director of the University of North Alabama Planetarium and Observatory. I am an Associate professor in the department of Physics and earth Science. My research interests include binary stars and star clusters.

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365 Days of Astronomy
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The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Audio post-production by Richard Drumm. Bandwidth donated by libsyn.com and wizzard media. You may reproduce and distribute this audio for non-commercial purposes. Please consider supporting the podcast with a few dollars (or Euros!). Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org. This year we will celebrates the Year of Everyday Astronomers as we embrace Amateur Astronomer contributions and the importance of citizen science. Join us and share your story. Until tomorrow! Goodbye!