20141121

Astronomy current events question: Nova Delphinus 2013 fireball

Astronomy 210L, fall 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!)
LaTina Emerson, "Led By Georgia State, Astronomers Image The Exploding Fireball Stage Of A Nova," (October 27, 2014)
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2014/43/full/
Georgia State University’s Center for High Angular Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) observed the expanding explosion of a nova in the constellation Delphinus by:
(A) using GPS satellite signals.
(B) trapping neutrinos in underground detectors.
(C) combining light from several telescopes.
(D) recording fluctuations in light reflected by the full moon.
(E) measuring increased aurora borealis activity.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 7 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 20 students
(D) : 5 students
(E) : 2 students

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