Astronomy current events question: lava planet CoRoT-7/TYC 4799-1733-1

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Kelly Beatty, "CoRoT-7b, The Lava Planet," September 16, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/home/59480512.html

How did the French CoRoT satellite discover the first rocky exoplanet CoRoT-7/TYC 4799-1733-1? Circle your answer below.
(A) Traces of organic compounds associated with life on Earth.
(B) Presence of high plumes of volcanic ash.
(C) Measurements of its mass and size, as it orbits around and passes in front of its star.
(D) Its rotation axis is tilted over on its side.
(E) Infrared light emitted from fresh lava flows on its surface.

Correct answer: (C).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 0 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 25 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 3 students

Astronomy current events question: Haumea's red spot

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Bill Andrews, "Haumea’s Newly Discovered Spot," September 16, 2009
http://cs.astronomy.com/asycs/blogs/astronomy/2009/09/16/haumea-s-newly-discovered-spot.aspx

How did an astronomer at the Queens University of Belfast discover a red spot on the dwarf planet Haumea in the Kuiper Belt? Circle your answer below.
(A) Observations of giant storm patterns in its atmosphere.
(B) Data from Voyagers 1 and 2 as they passed through the Kuiper Belt.
(C) Investigating changes in brightness as it rotated.
(D) Recording a giant impact between Kuiper Belt objects.
(E) Changing colors as it passed in front of a distant star.

Correct answer: (C).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 9 students
(C) : 14 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 3 students

Central Coast Astronomical Society monthly meeting: NASA Kepler Misssion

090926-1110782
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/3964831259/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI principal investigator and NASA Kepler Space Telescope mission science team member, giving a presentation on the "NASA Kepler Mission: Detection of (Tatooine-Like) Habitable Planets Around Double Stars" at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, CA, September 26, 2009, hosted by the Central Coast Astronomical Society. Photo by Cuesta College Physical Sciences Division instructor Dr. Patrick M. Len.

Cuesta College North County campus star party

090910-1110632
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waiferx/3952292654/
Originally uploaded by Waifer X

Cuesta College Astronomy 210L students and guests during a North County campus star party. Photo by Cuesta College Physical Sciences Division instructor Dr. Patrick M. Len.

Sights seen:
Jupiter
Epsilon Lyrae (The "Double-Double")
Alberio (Beta Cygni)
Vega

Astronomy current events question: refurbished Hubble Space Telescope

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Space Telescope Science Institute press release, "Hubble Opens New Eyes on the Universe," September 9, 2009
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/science/ero_images.html

What was done to the newly refurbished NASA Hubble Space Telescope in order to obtain new ultraviolet to near-infrared images? Circle your answer below.
(A) A new imaging camera was installed.
(B) Its primary mirror was cleaned.
(C) Nanotechnology filters replaced older laminated plastic filters.
(D) Its orbit was boosted farther out away from Earth.
(E) More liquid helium coolant was added to its reservoir tank.

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 51 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 4 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 2 students

Astronomy current events question: white dwarf with companion star

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "XMM-Newton Telescope Uncovers a Celestial Rosetta Stone," September 3, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8600

The European Space Agency XMM-Newton orbiting x-ray telescope has imaged a white dwarf circling a companion star. What is predicted to eventually happen to this white dwarf? Circle your answer below.
(A) Explode in a few million years, bright enough to be seen in daylight.
(B) Collapse into a black hole, swallowing up its companion star.
(C) Feeding on its companion star, becoming large enough to be a main sequence star.
(D) Slowly die off, falling into its companion star.
(E) Drift away after its companion star dies, on a collision course with Regulus.

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 24 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 0 students

Astronomy current events question: LCROSS booster destination

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "The Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite Reveals Target Crater for Lunar South Pole Impacts," September 11, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8615

The NASA Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) has separated from its upper-stage rocket booster. Where is this rocket booster now headed? Circle your answer below.
(A) Back towards Earth, over a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.
(B) In low Earth orbit, to dock with the International Space Station.
(C) To be a target for an U.S. Air Force anti-asteroid missile test.
(D) Impacting the moon to kick up debris that will be analyzed.
(E) Returning to eventually ferry LCROSS-2 to the moon.

Correct answer: (D).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 22 students
(E) : 2 students

Astronomy current events question: distant galaxy with black hole

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "University of Hawaii astronomer finds giant galaxy hosting the most distant supermassive black hole," September 4, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8603

How was a University of Hawaii astronomer able to obtain images of a giant galaxy containing the most distant black hole ever found? Circle your answer below.
(A) Computer simulations of a collision between satellite galaxies and the Milky Way.
(B) Faint radio signals received by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
(C) Cave paintings of the same galaxy, much younger, dating back to the Pleistocene era.
(D) Re-examining archived images from the Hubble Space Telescope.
(E) A new red-sensitive camera on the Subaru telescope on Mauna Kea.

Correct answer: (E).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 58 students

Astronomy current events question: Apollo 12 remnants

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Victoria Jaggard, "NEW MOON PHOTO: Apollo 12 Site Seen With Craft, Prints," September 4, 2009
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/09/090904-apollo-12-landing-picture.html

How was NASA recently able to obtain images on the surface of the Moon of the remnants of the Apollo 12 mission? Circle your answer below.
(A) A high-resolution camera aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
(B) A test run of the newly refurbished Hubble Space Telescope.
(C) Photos provided by the new Russian Lunar Rover.
(D) Previously undeveloped negatives that were lost in the National Library Archives.
(E) The rebooted Apollo 12 lunar lander camera, recharged with solar power.

Correct answer: (E).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70200
(A) : 28 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 6 students

Astronomy current events question: Milky Way collision

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Astronomy.com editors, "Galactic bombardment unlikely to destroy Milky Way," September 1, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8595

According to computer simulations run by astronomers at Ohio State University, what would be the result of a satellite galaxy colliding with our Milky Way? Circle your answer below.
(A) The Milky Way would destabilize, splitting into many smaller galaxies.
(B) More dark matter would be produced, thus protecting the Milky Way.
(C) The satellite galaxy would steal stars and gas from the Milky Way.
(D) The satellite galaxy would fall into the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole.
(E) The outer edge of the Milky Way would flare outwards.

Correct answer: (E).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 4 students
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 8 students
(E) : 40 students

Astronomy current events question: disappearing sunspots

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Tony Phillips, "Are Sunspots Disappearing?" September 3, 2009
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/03sep_sunspots.htm?list212050

What have researchers at the National Solar Observatory theorized about the cause of Sun's disappearing sunspots? Circle your answer below.
(A) Weakening magnetic fields.
(B) Decreasing fusion in the core.
(C) Earth's magnetic poles are about to flip.
(D) Main sequence lifetime ending.
(E) An impending giant solar flare.

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70200
(A) : 15 students
(B) : 5 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 2 students

Erasing slate: this is sweet

"Hello this is SWEET" by Anonymous
September 1, 2009
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Latest scribbling on the lift-and-erase slate in the hallway, outside the office door.

Astronomy current events question: Jupiter impact aftermath

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Kelly Beatty, "Jupiter's Impact: Gone in 30 Days," August 27, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/53952917.html

What has happened to the new dark spot on Jupiter caused by a recent impact?
(A) Large enough to affect Jupiter's weather patterns.
(B) Changed from dark brown to red.
(C) Split into two small dark spots.
(D) Nearly disappeared.
(E) Moved to Jupiter's north pole.

Correct answer: (D).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 71086
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 34 students
(E) : 1 student

Astronomy current events question: hot exoplanet WASP-18b

Astronomy 210L, Fall Semester 2009
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!)

Kelly Beatty, "Why Does Exoplanet WASP-18b Exist?" August 26, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/55066637.html

According to United Kingdom researchers, what is so surprising about the recently discovered exoplanet WASP-18b?
(A) Orbits its star too closely to survive very long.
(B) Has traces of organic compounds associated with life on Earth.
(C) May have recently collided with exoplanet WASP-18a.
(D) Too large to be considered a planet.
(E) Will soon cause its star to undergo a nova explosion.

Correct answer: (A).

Student responses
Sections 70178, 71086
(A) : 34 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 6 students
(D) : 1 student
(E) : 0 students