Astronomy current events question: Phoenix lander status

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, "Frost-Covered Phoenix Lander Seen in Winter Images," November 5, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8778

The NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera has recently observed the NASA Phoenix Lander:
(A) stuck between two medium-sized boulders.
(B) covered by dry-ice frost.
(C) sinking in quicksand.
(D) surrounded by rising waters from melting ice.
(E) currently enroute to salvaging parts from the NASA Mars Spirit Rover.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 5 students
(B) : 42 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 5 students
(E) : 4 students

Astronomy current events question: upper atmosphere dust samples

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, "'Ultra-Primitive' Particles Found in Comet Dust," November 2, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8767

According to Carnegie Institute researchers, dust samples collected by high-flying aircraft in the upper atmosphere contain:
(A) evidence that a global cooling cycle is starting.
(B) material from a new atmospheric layer of carbon dioxide.
(C) material from stars that existed before the birth of our solar system.
(D) characteristics of lunar soil samples.
(E) pollen grains and seeds from before the dinosaur extinction.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 7 students
(C) : 43 students
(D) : 3 students
(E) : 2 students

Astronomy current events question: cosmic ray origin

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, "VERITAS Telescope Array Helps Solve The Origin of Cosmic Rays," November 2, 2009
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8766

Researchers using evidence from the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System (VERITAS) have determined that cosmic rays are:
(A) the product of processes deep within Earth's core.
(B) caused by the decay of unstable, ultraheavy elements.
(C) antimatter particles from the big bang.
(D) photons emitted by quasars.
(E) protons accelerated by exploding stars and stellar winds.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 3 students
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 6 students
(E) : 44 students

Astronomy current events question: Fermi space telescope gamma rays

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!)

Ivan Semeniuk, "Is Fermi Seeing Dark Matter?," October 28, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/semeniuk/66968132.html

According to Harvard researchers, gamma rays detected by the space-based Fermi Large Area Telescope may indicate the presence of:
(A) dark energy.
(B) dark matter.
(C) Nibiru, a planetoid supposedly colliding with Earth in 2012.
(D) a new supermassive black hole near the Milky Way center.
(E) technological sources of nuclear energy being released.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70200
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 34 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 4 students

Astronomy current events question: notable gamma ray burst

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!)

Alan MacRobert, "Blast from the Very Far Past," October 28, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/66941457.html

What is notable about the gamma ray burst detected by the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii last April, recently published in a peer-reviewed journal?
(A) Most energetic explosion known.
(B) Disputed as an instrument calibration error.
(C) Echo of the original big bang.
(D) Seen to be evolving backwards in time.
(E) Earliest explosion yet observed.

Correct answer: (E)

Student responses
Section 70178
(A) : 3 students
(B) : 2 student
(C) : 5 students
(D) : 2 students
(E) : 8 students

Astronomy current events question: Indonesian atmospheric blast

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, "Cosmic Blast Rattles Indonesia," October 25, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/65960457.html

What have scientists determined to be most likely cause of an atmospheric blast over Indonesia in early October?
(A) Asteroid fragment.
(B) Stray antimatter particles.
(C) Gamma ray burst.
(D) The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.
(E) Reentering rocket booster.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Section 70200
(A) : 20 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 0 students

Astronomy current events question: accused spy/planetary science researcher

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!)

Richard A. Kerr, "Accused Spy Was Hot on Trail of Lunar Ice," October 20, 2009
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2009/10/accused-spy-was.html

A U.S. planetary scientist charged with attempting to sell classified information was previously involved with investigating what feature of the moon?
(A) Subsurface ice in shadowed craters.
(B) Detection of stranglets in Apollo mission lunar soil samples.
(C) Supposed nuclear blast tests on the far side.
(D) Falsification of Apollo mission moon landings.
(E) Disputed theories of the origin of the moon.

Correct answer: (A)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 22 students
(B) : 2 students
(C) : 2 students
(D) : 0 students
(E) : 2 students

Astronomy current events question: latest exoplanet discoveries

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!)

Alan MacRobert, "And Then There Were 400," October 21, 2009
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news/65056162.html

How did the European Space Observatory in La Silla, Chile detect the 30 newest exoplanets, bringing the known total to over 400?
(A) Reflected radio signals from Voyager 1/2 probes.
(B) Observing these planets passing in front of their stars.
(C) Wobbles these planets exert on their stars.
(D) Laser light reflected off these planets.
(E) Radio signals from planetary magnetic storms.

Correct answer: (C)

Student responses
Sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(A) : 8 students
(B) : 14 students
(C) : 41 students
(D) : 4 students
(E) : 1 student