Astronomy current events questions: August 28, 2007 event, and Mars e-mail hoax

Astronomy 10L, Fall Semester 2007
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events (skytonight.com, from Sky & Telescope magazine), 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!)

A sample quiz is given to the students on the first lab meeting of the semester, and is not graded.

[0.2 points.] What special astronomical event will occur from 2:52 AM to 4:22 AM on August 28, 2007 for observers in San Luis Obispo, CA?
(A) A total lunar eclipse.
(B) A total solar eclipse.
(C) A discarded service module from the International Space Station will burn up as it enters the atmosphere.
(D) Daylight savings time will end.
(E) The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak.

Correct answer: (A).

[0.2 points.] What recent e-mail hoax is circulating on the internet regarding Mars?
(A) Mars will appear as large as the full Moon, to the naked eye sometime this month.
(B) Mars is completely covered by a dust storm that shrouds the entire planet.
(C) A NASA space probe launched this month will land on Mars only nine months from now.
(D) The NASA already lost radio contact with the Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity over one year ago.
(E) The temperature of Mars proves that global warming is actually caused by sunspot activity.

Correct answer: (A).