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