20180920

Astronomy current events question: superfast GW170817 jet

Astronomy 210L, fall semester 2018
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!)
Dave Finley, "Radio Observations Confirm Superfast Jet of Material From Neutron Star Merger" (September 5, 2018)
public.nrao.edu/news/superfast-jet-neutron-star-merger/
Various radio telescopes detected a narrow jet of material escaping from GW170817, the aftermath of two neutron stars merging to become a:
(A) type II supernova.
(B) new galaxy.
(C) gamma ray pulsar.
(D) black hole.
(E) ring nebula.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 1 student

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