Astronomy current events question: protoplanetary disk

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, "NASA's Spitzer Spots Clump of Swirling Planetary Material," September 24, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8660

What have several scientists proposed as the cause of varying infrared light from a dusty disk around the star LRLL 31, detected by the NASA Spitzer Space Telescope? Circle your answer below.
(A) Outer layers of the star, as it becomes a planetary nebula.
(B) Protoplanets colliding.
(C) Neutron star pulsar beams
(D) A companion star or planet swirling material together.
(E) A black hole passing in front of the star.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 24 students
(E) : 1 student