20140411

Astronomy current events question: asteroid Chariklo rings

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)
Felipe Braga-Ribas, Bruno Sicardy, José Luis Ortiz, and Richard Hook, "First Ring System Around Asteroid," March 26, 2014
http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1410/
The rings around asteroid Chariklo were discovered by telescopes observing:
(A) from different angles.
(B) multiple collisions.
(C) infrared emission from dust.
(D) blocked starlight.
(E) reflected sunlight.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680, 30682
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 12 students
(D) : 35 students
(E) : 5 students

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